SC issues notices to Centre, J

New Delhi, Nov 24 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Centre and the state of Jammu and Kashmir on a petition filed by All India Kashmiri Samaj seeking directions to the respondents to issue a white paper on the events in the strife-torn state.

The petitioners have also sought directions to the government to consult Kashmiri Pandits and their representatives in all meetings concerning the Kashmir valley.

A bench comprising Justices K G Balakrishnan and D K Jain also directed the respondents to file status report about the steps taken to rehabilitate about 3.75 lakh members of the minority community.

Earlier the counsel for the petitioner contended before the court that the attitude of the government towards Kashmiri Pandits showed colossal callousness as the government did not care for them.

The petition contains more than a dozen prayers including issuance of directions to the state to treat Kashmiri Pandits as internally displaced citizens of the country and also to treat the sale of their properties as distress sale which should be adequately compensated.

Petitioners have also asked the court to expedite the trial of cases involving the murder of about 2000 prominent Kashmiri Pandits.

The petitioners have also demanded adequate compensation to the victims of militancy in the state.

UNI XC MQA RP BS1601