HC Bench extends time to file suggestions to expert committee on road accidents

A Division Bench of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh at Jammu comprising Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice MA Chowdhary extended further time to advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the petitioners to file suggestions to the report of the four-member expert committee on road accidents in Jammu division.

The expert committee was constituted by the HC Bench on December 7, 2023, to inspect various sites on National Highways in Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar, which are prone to accidents.

The committee was directed to find out the reasons for these frequent and repeated road accidents which are taking place in these areas and the committee was also requested to suggest the measures to be taken with regard to make the aforesaid areas accident free. The division bench had also directed the committee to inspect the Mughal Road to find out the causes of accidents.

When three different Public Interest Litigations (PILs) highlighting frequent road accidents came up for hearing, advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the petitioners submitted that the committee after inspecting the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar Road National Highway and Mughal Road has submitted its detailed report indicating the reasons for frequent and repeated road accidents. He further submitted that the committee in its report also suggested measures for preventing the frequent accidents in the vulnerable areas.

Ahmed submitted that he is in touch with some experts and also the petitioners to file the suggestions to the report and sought some more time to do the needful. After considering the submissions of Advocate Ahmed, the HC bench extended more time to file suggestions. The Division Bench directed the Registry to re-notify the instant PIL on April 22.