The Jammu & Kashmir High Court on Thursday sought details of funds and other material so far utilised by Omar Abdullah government for relief and rehabilitation of the victims of recent flood fury in the state. Issuing notice to the state and others, a division bench comprising Justice Virinder Singh and Justice D S Thakur sought by Tuesday a report from the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, listing details of the funds and other material so far utilised by the administration for relief and rehabilitation of victims of the natural calamity. It also asked him to come up with plans about utilization of funds and relief material being received by it for flood victims. This followed a public interest litigation filed by two practicing lawyers, Ajay Bakshi and T R Wani, alleging disbursement of relief to the victims of natural calamity at a slow pace across Jammu region. Their counsels, Sachin Dogra and A P Singh, drew court’s attention towards non-disbursement of any relief to victims in many parts of Jammu region especially those in hilly areas of Reasi and Rajouri districts. The funds and relief material were coming to the administration from various places, but these were not reaching the victims, they added. Pointing out that both the rescue operations and relief measures shall go simultaneously, they said that people at various places were starving as the administration had not supplied them any ration so far. This was violative of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, the counsels pointed out, adding that the administration instead of reaching out to the people was asking them to approach it with requisite documentary details for getting the relief. They sought court’s direction to the administration for fair and equitable distribution of relief material to victims of natural calamity across the region. Meanwhile, Jammu Bar Association also joined the issue asking the state government to ensure fair and equitable distribution of relief material and funds received from Central government, different states, organizations, NGOs and individuals. The Bar Association president and senior advocate, Mohinder Bhardwaj, asked the general public to approach them in case any injustice is done or relief denied to any flood victim. The Bar Association will provide free legal aid to flood victims, he added. He also appealed to the medicos and para medical staff of the state government to provide free medical aid in flood hit areas until the normalization of situation there. The teachers shall also provide free education to children affected by floods and if needed, even take their extra classes, he said and asked the Education Department officials to prepared a list of flood hit students and distribute among them school uniforms and study material at the earliest.
