HC tells govt to make revised compensation policy public

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has sought personal appearance of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, on the next date of hearing if he fails to comply with its earlier directions on publishing the revised policy on payment of compensation to the 2014 flood victims in local English and Urdu newspapers.

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 28

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has sought personal appearance of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, on the next date of hearing if he fails to comply with its earlier directions on publishing the revised policy on payment of compensation to the 2014 flood victims in local English and Urdu newspapers.

These directions were issued today by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, which was hearing a public interest litigation on the devastating floods of 2014, which caused havoc in central Kashmir, including Srinagar city and south Kashmir.

As noted by the High Court in its orders dated May 13, 2015, the state Advocate General had submitted that a revised policy for the payment of compensation to the flood victims has been arrived at by the government on April 4, 2015.

It is based on these submissions that the High Court was of the view, which was also put down in writing in the May 13 order, that the said (revised) policy be published in the local Urdu as well as in English newspapers within 10 days so that the flood victims concerned come to know about the same (revised policy) and claim compensation.

However, as the matter came up for hearing today, the Bench was informed that the revised policy had not been published in local newspapers by the authorities concerned till date, which prompted the court to issue directions.

Accordingly, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir has been asked to comply with its earlier (May 13, 2015) directions about publishing the revised policy for the payment of compensation to the flood victims in local English and Urdu newspapers by or before August 4, failing which he shall have to appear in person.

Meanwhile, in his submissions today, Assistant Solicitor General, Government of India, SA Makru informed the court that the requirement of Aadhaar enrolment number is, however, not a precondition for release of assistance (to the flood victims) and a decision to this effect was accordingly conveyed to the state government.

“The payments in these categories are being released even without Aadhaar enrolment number,” he submitted.