Srinagar: The J&K High Court directed government to implement on ground ‘transport subsidy scheme’ for replacement of 15-year-old buses and mini-buses by giving wide publicity to the scheme.
The direction of imposing complete ban on the 15-25 year old commercial vehicles came in response to the direction submitted before court that a scheme under the name “Transport Subsidy Scheme for replacement of 15-year-old vehicles” has been launched and owners of buses or mini-buses who are willing to replace his 15 years old vehicle can avail the benefit of Rs 5 lakh subsidy.
It was also informed to court that so far 71 owners have applied under the scheme with further submission that the government is set introduce the E-Rickshaws for operation in Jammu & Srinagar Cities.
The court of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur while going through the government’s response directed that compliance report regarding the directions shall be submitted from all the areas of J&K.
“The respondents shall file the details of the above said 71 owners with date of application filed under the scheme. The respondents are further directed to implement on ground the scheme by giving a wide publicity in the print and electronic media so that people come to know about it and avail the benefit,” the court directed.
With further direction that compliance report must also indicate in detail as to what steps have been taken and what is status of introducing the E-Rickshaws in the Jammu and Srinagar Cities.
Meanwhile court also directed the Inspector General of Police, (Traffic), J&K, to indicate in his report the hiccups his department is facing in regulating the free flow of traffic in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The report must also include his suggestions that he feels should be adopted towards resolving the traffic mismanagement,” it directed.
The court also called a detailed report from the Principal Secretary to the government on the issue of switching of vehicles over CNG (compressed natural gas) emphasizing therein the cases considered and resolved so far since 19th April, 2017, the date when the Chief Secretary of J&K is shown to have submitted his affidavit before the court in this behalf.
The court passed the direction after a report on the issue suggested that the government is taking decision on the case to case basis, based on the structural integrity and left out life of the vehicle.

NUSRAT SIDIQ