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Srinagar, Apr 20 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the authorities not to shift 550 orphans of the Kashmir valley outside the state.

The court in its order stayed the shifting of these orphans to Pune and other places outside the state for two more weeks.

The order came after the court heard arguments from both the sides.

Earlier, the court had directed the authorities not to shift the Kashmiri orphans outside the state before furnishing full details about the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) adopting these children.

The children, orphaned by the October eight killer quake and 15 year-long-militancy, were shifted to Pune and other places by the government last year after depositing Rs five lakh in their account from the compensation released by the Prime Minister.

However, an NGO and Kashmir Bar Association (KBA) filed a petition in the High Court, seeking direction to bring back all the children.

The petitioners alleged these children were handed over to some NGOs outside the state without the consent of their guardians.

KBA president Mian Abdul Qayoum, opposing the shifting of these children to outside the state, said more than 700 members of the KBA were ready to adopt one child each.

Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) and other separatist organisations also opposed shifting of Kashmir orphans to Pune.

They alleged it was a ''conspiracy against the Kashmiris''.

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