The Jammu and Kashmir High Court issued notice on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the issue of increasing cases of road accidents in the hilly terrain of Chenab Valley.
The PIL is registered pursuant to a letter dated 17.12.2022 sent by Asif Iqbal Butt, Social Activist drawing attention of the High Court towards the increasing cases of road accidents in the hilly terrain of Chenab Valley.
The letter raises concerns about government agencies not taking adequate measures both long-term measures and short-term measures, to prevent such unfortunate accidents.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice (Acting) Tashi Rabstan and Justice Rejesh Sekhri while observing that the issue highlighted in the letter is of serious nature in public interest, accordingly, the following are impleaded as party respondent by the High Court.
1) Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir Through Commissioner/Secretary to Govt., PW(R&B) Department, Civil Secretariat, Jammu.
2) The Commissioner/Secretary to Govt., Transport Department, Civil Secretariat, Jammu.
3) The Director General of Police, J&K.
4) The Inspector General of Police(Traffic), Jammu
5) Chief Engineer, R&B, Jammu
6) Assistant Regional Transport Officer, Doda
7) Assistant Regional Transport Officer, Kishtwar;
8) Project Director, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, Jammu
9) Chief Engineer (Project) BEACON
10) Chief Engineer (Project) SAMPARK.
and the Court issued notice to the Respondents.
At this stage, the following directions are issued by the High Court”-
(i) The Bench directed the respondents 1( Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir) and respondent 2 (The Commissioner/Secretary to Govt., Transport Department, Civil Secretariat, Jammu) to constitute a Committee of Experts which shall ascertain the reasons for repeated road accidents on Batote-Doda-Kishtwar Road. The Committee shall suggest measures which help to make the road accident-free.
(ii) A further direction is issued to respondents 1, Chief Engineer (Project) BEACON and Chief Engineer (Project) SAMPARK. to erect rolling barriers/steel pillars on curved roads, also wherever culverts are found through Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road.
(iii) The aforesaid respondents against whom the directions are being issued shall file the Action Taken Report by or before the next date of hearing.
The PIL is listed on 01.02.2023 for further hearing.