PIL regarding increase in accidents: DB directs constituting Experts Committee to ascertain reasons, suggest measures to contain mishaps

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: A Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Rajesh Sekri, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation regarding increasing cases of road accidents in hilly terrain of Chenab Valley, directed Commissioner/Secretary to Govt., PW(R&B) and Transport 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.
DB after hearing Adv Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed for PIL, further directed respondents to erect rolling barriers/steel pillars on curved roads and also wherever culverts are found, across the stretch. DB further directed the respondents to file Action Taken Report by or before the next date of hearing.
When PIL came-up for hearing, DB observed that the PIL is registered pursuant to letter dated Dec 17, 2022 sent by one Asif Iqbal Butt, Social Activist, resident of Kahara, District Doda (Chenab Valley) drawing attention of the Court towards increasing cases of road accidents in Chenab Valley. DB observed that issue highlighted in the letter is of serious nature in public interest, accordingly, the following are impleaded as party respondent are Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir Through Commissioner/Secretary to Government PW(R&B) Department, Commissioner/ Secretary to Government, Transport Department, Director General of Police, J&K, he Inspector General of Police (Traffic), Jammu, Chief Engineer, R&B, Jammu, ARTO, Doda, ARTO Kishtwar, Project Director National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, Jammu, CE (Project) BEACON, care of 56 APO and CE r (Project) SAMPARK, care of 56 APO.
During the course of hearing, Adv S S Ahmed apprised that a PIL i.e. WP(C) PIL No. 30/2019 titled ‘Intakhab Ahmed Qazi, v. State and others’ raised issue with regard to Mughal Road and he is assisting the Court in the same after which Division Bench appointed S S Ahmed as Amicus Curiae in the petition as well. DB directed Commissioner/Secretary to Govt., PW(R&B) and Trasnport 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 road accident-free.