The PIL was filed by a lawyer who also requested that the place where the attack happened be officially named as ‘Shaheed Hindu Valley Tourist Place’.
Punjab: 20th May: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has refused to pass any orders on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking ‘martyr’ status for those who lost their lives in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
The PIL was filed by a lawyer who also requested that the place where the attack happened be officially named as ‘Shaheed Hindu Valley Tourist Place’.
However, the High Court said that these matters fall under the government’s policy decisions, and the judiciary cannot interfere in such cases.
The Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel observed, “The Court refrains from entering into the field of policy making, which is exclusively deserved for the executive.”
The Bench clarified that the petitioner still has the option to approach the government with the request. The court added that the State government should look into the matter as per the law. “The petition stands disposed of,” the court said in its final order.
Earlier, during the hearing on May 6, the Court had raised an important legal question: whether such directions can be issued under Article 226 of the Constitution. This article allows High Courts to issue certain types of orders for enforcing fundamental rights or for any other legal purpose.
The PIL came in the wake of a horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam last month, in which 26 innocent tourists were killed when terrorists opened fire in the scenic area. The incident created a serious situation between India and Pakistan, almost like a war.
In response, India has launched Operation Sindoor to take strong action and avenge the brutal killings.
The court did not reject the emotions behind the petition but stated that it cannot cross the boundaries of its legal powers. Instead, it advised that such demands be placed before the government, which can take a decision according to its policies and legal framework.
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
