Helicopter services: SASB asked to file status report on plea for online booking

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday directed Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) to file a status report on a plea seeking direction to adopt the online system for booking and sale of tickets for helicopter services from Jammu and Kashmir, especially for old, ailing and disabled pilgrims, for the yatra.

A bench of acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Sachin Datta issued notice on the petition.

   

The petition by an organisation, the Indian Council of Legal Aid, submitted that the refusal of the Centre and the Shrine Board to introduce the online system for booking and sale of all tickets of helicopter services from Jammu and Srinagar for the Amarnath yatra, was resulting into hoarding and black marketing of tickets leading to the misery for thousands of genuine and needy pilgrims.

It termed it as wholly arbitrary, discriminatory, irrational, unwarranted and unjust, and against the public interest.

The counsel appearing for the Amarnathji Shrine Board said 100 per cent booking for helicopter services for the pilgrimage would be done through an online process and the same would be put in place shortly.

The court listed the matter for further hearing on May 31.

The petition, through lawyer Avadh Kaushik, said as per a news report it was the priority of the union government that the pilgrims coming for the Amarnath yatra should have hassle-free darshan and they should not face any problems.

But surprisingly, the problem of not being able to obtain helicopter tickets for Baba Amarnath Yatra, by the old and ailing and disabled pilgrims on account of the black marketing of tickets by the authorised agents in collusion with the local hoteliers which already stood highlighted or exposed by the local newspapers and about which a representation was already made by a public representative, the plea said.

It sought to direct the authorities to forthwith make available all the tickets for helicopter service from Jammu or Srinagar to Baba Amarnath shrine through the online booking system only and also revoke the quota of tickets allotted by it to its authorised travel agents for this year’s yatra.

This year’s yatra will begin on June 30 and conclude on August 11.

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