Srinagar: The J&K High Court on Monday issued show cause notice to the Commissioner Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies and Commissioner Secretary, Transport department after a fresh petition seeking redressal of exorbitant price hike on essential commodities as well as to the issue concerning availability of public transport to the people especially working class and students in the evening.
While treating a letter sent by Jammu and Kashmir People’s Forum Trust through its chairman MM Shuja as Public Interest Litigation, the court of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur on Monday issued show cause notice to authorities to answer why the relief should not be granted to the petitioner seeking redressal of the issues of public good. “The notice is returnable within four weeks,” the court directed.
Earlier, the letter by the petitioner’s organization addressed to the High Court said that the divisional administration in Kashmir has failed to address the issues of price hike on essential commodities.
It stated that lettuce (saag) and spinach (palak) is sold at Rs 100 per kilogram and mutton at Rs 600 per kg.
The petitioner stated in the letter that cooking gas home delivery has been totally abandoned and once in a while the service is offered now.
It also brought attention of the court towards the non-availability of transport on various routes in Srinagar. “There is no public transport available in various routes of Srinagar including Buchpora, Chanapora, Sanant Nagar, Lal Bazar, Khonmoh and other downtown and civil lines areas,” the petitioner stated through the letter.
It added after 6 pm there is no public transport available and in this scenario, auto-rickshaw operators charge unfair rates. The petitioner said that the departments of food supplies, food safety, regional transport officer, Kashmir and traffic police are totally helpless to address these issues.

NUSRAT SIDIQ