04-16-2005, 09:35 PM
<b>HC vindicates Amarnath Board stand </b>
Mohit Khandari/ Jammu
In a landmark judgment, Jammu and Kashmir High court on Friday asked the state Government to respect the decisions of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).
On a petition filed by Mr Ram Pal Bathonia,Mr Justice Permod Kohli in his judgement Friday said that "Any interference by the State in the manner alleged by the petitioner and complained by the Board in its reply is nothing but violation of Articles 25 and 26 of Constitution of India."' <b>As for accommodation with pre-fabricated sheds, making provision for sanitation which include the construction of toilets and bath rooms, steps to generate electricity are within the exclusive domain of the Board. The Board has also right to take effective steps for the welfare of yatris.</b>
On registration, the Judge agreed to the mode proposed by the SASB for providing advance registration facility through internet, post offices and banks. Judge said there had to be provision for registration at various other places for larger sections of the people who are not in a position to avail the advance registration through advanced technology. <b>The Board has proposed that on-the-spot registration at Vaishnavi Dham, Jammu, Srinagar, Pahalgam and Baltal. The Judge also proposed the registration to be done at Delhi Udhampur and Anantnag to be controlled by Jammu Office at Vaishnavi Dham where there is adequate infrastructure.</b>
The judgment also dwells on the number of pilgrims and duration of the yatra and says "If the Board feels and takes a conscious decision on objective considerations the period of yatra should be extended to two months as proposed last year and the State should not object to it. The judgement vindicates the stand of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, which was not allowed to function as per the provisos of the Act last year. In fact, the last year's controversy over the pilgrimage had brought the Raj Bhavan and Jammu and Kashmir Government at loggerheads.
As the controversy deepened creating unrest among thousands of pilgrims across the country, <b>it was agreed that the Governor as Chairman of the SASB should perform Pratham Pujan 60 days before the scheduled date for beginning of the yatra. This was duly done. In a PIL, a petition had also been made to the High Court for seeking orders to restrain the Jammu and Kashmir Government not to subvert the spirit of SASB.</b> Last year, the Board had not been allowed to raise facilities for pilgrims thronging from various parts of the country. <b>And the State Police detained workers of the Board proceeding to Baltal to construct temporary shelters</b>.
Mohit Khandari/ Jammu
In a landmark judgment, Jammu and Kashmir High court on Friday asked the state Government to respect the decisions of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).
On a petition filed by Mr Ram Pal Bathonia,Mr Justice Permod Kohli in his judgement Friday said that "Any interference by the State in the manner alleged by the petitioner and complained by the Board in its reply is nothing but violation of Articles 25 and 26 of Constitution of India."' <b>As for accommodation with pre-fabricated sheds, making provision for sanitation which include the construction of toilets and bath rooms, steps to generate electricity are within the exclusive domain of the Board. The Board has also right to take effective steps for the welfare of yatris.</b>
On registration, the Judge agreed to the mode proposed by the SASB for providing advance registration facility through internet, post offices and banks. Judge said there had to be provision for registration at various other places for larger sections of the people who are not in a position to avail the advance registration through advanced technology. <b>The Board has proposed that on-the-spot registration at Vaishnavi Dham, Jammu, Srinagar, Pahalgam and Baltal. The Judge also proposed the registration to be done at Delhi Udhampur and Anantnag to be controlled by Jammu Office at Vaishnavi Dham where there is adequate infrastructure.</b>
The judgment also dwells on the number of pilgrims and duration of the yatra and says "If the Board feels and takes a conscious decision on objective considerations the period of yatra should be extended to two months as proposed last year and the State should not object to it. The judgement vindicates the stand of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, which was not allowed to function as per the provisos of the Act last year. In fact, the last year's controversy over the pilgrimage had brought the Raj Bhavan and Jammu and Kashmir Government at loggerheads.
As the controversy deepened creating unrest among thousands of pilgrims across the country, <b>it was agreed that the Governor as Chairman of the SASB should perform Pratham Pujan 60 days before the scheduled date for beginning of the yatra. This was duly done. In a PIL, a petition had also been made to the High Court for seeking orders to restrain the Jammu and Kashmir Government not to subvert the spirit of SASB.</b> Last year, the Board had not been allowed to raise facilities for pilgrims thronging from various parts of the country. <b>And the State Police detained workers of the Board proceeding to Baltal to construct temporary shelters</b>.