Why polythene not banned?: HC

Srinagar, Nov 25: Expressing strong resentment over the failure of authorities to enforce a ban on sale and use of polythene in the tourist places and hospitals, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to explain their position on the matter.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice, Bashir Ahmad Khan and Justice Bashir Ahmad Kirmani hearing a Public Interest Litigation for ban on polythene directed the officials of SMC and LAWDA to file their reports to avoid coercive action by the court.

The court had directed the LAWDA and SMC to file a compliance report on its previous directions.

However, the court said that no reports were filed by Commissioner and Health Officer of SMC and Vice-chairman LAWDA who were to enforce the ban in Dal lake and Mughal Gardens.

The lapse on their part was viewed seriously, the court observed.

It directed the Commissioner and Health Officer of SMC, Directors of Health and vice-chairman of LAWDA to file their reports and also appear in person the before the court.

The division bench also took strong notice of failure of management of private hospitals in filing the compliance report.

''We feel concerned that the management of private hospitals have not responded to the court orders,'' the bench said, adding it was not, however, known whether the court orders were communicated to concerned quarters.

It directed the Directors of Health to seek requisite reports from managements of private hospitals and nursing homes and to call upon their management and their heads to appear before the court.

It passed strong remarks on the compliance reports filed by senior government and police officials, Chief Executive Officers of Sonmarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam.

The court said all these authorities had filed their routine action taken reports claiming that they had taken steps to conduct raids on shopkeepers and to create awareness and to prevent littering. But no concrete and specific action plan had been adopted or indicated by them which could constitute a permanent mechanism for enforcing the court order.

It directed the authorities to accord serious consideration on adopting mechanism and machinery on permanent basis.

UNI