Today, On 21st April, The J&K and Ladakh High Court has ordered the SMC Commissioner to appear in person for not submitting a status report on Srinagar’s slaughterhouse project. The direction follows repeated non-compliance in a PIL seeking proper abattoir construction.
The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has asked the Commissioner of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to personally appear in court for not submitting a status report on the construction of a slaughterhouse (abattoir) in Srinagar.
This direction was given by the Bench of Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) that focuses on the construction of slaughterhouses in Jammu and Srinagar.
Earlier, on March 25, the Court had given the authorities one last and final chance to file a proper status report. The Court had clearly warned that if the report was not submitted, the SMC Commissioner would have to appear in person before the Court.
However, even after this strong warning, the report was not filed, and the SMC Commissioner also did not come to court.
The judges were very disappointed that their orders were not followed. Due to this, the Court has now ordered that the SMC Commissioner must appear in court on the next date of the hearing. He must explain why the report was not filed and must give a full update on the current situation of the project.
During the hearing, Advocate Supriya Chouhan, who is representing the petitioner, told the Court” that the authorities are not taking the construction of these slaughterhouses seriously, even though the Court has given many instructions before”.
She added,
“The slaughterhouses are crucial for ensuring public health, sanitation, and proper regulation of meat processing activities in the twin capital cities.”
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The Court strongly noticed this lack of action and issued a strict direction to ensure responsibility is taken by the concerned official. It also stressed the importance of having proper facilities for meat processing to protect public health and hygiene in both Jammu and Srinagar.
The matter will now be heard again on May 13, and the SMC Commissioner has to be present in the court on that day.
