Srinagar: The J&K High Court on Tuesday issued notice to Ministry of Transport Government of India through its Secretary calling for a response on a policy with regard to regulation of the registration of the vehicles.
The court passed the direction after Government counsel informed that since the erstwhile state of J&K was bifurcated into two Union Territories last year, the policy decision lies now with Central Government.
Earlier, the Government of J&K was under direction to formulate a policy with regard to regulation of the registration of the vehicles by imposing condition in the registration norms to the extent of asking the owner who intends to have vehicle registered with the transport authority for availability of parking at his (owner’s) residence.
Meanwhile court today approved the category of parking plans proposed by the Committee headed by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir.
The Committee under the chairmanship of Divisional Commissioner has categorized the parking plans in four categories viz Existing Parking, Development of Parking Slots, Road Side Parking and Private open land parking and declared them A, B,C and D category respectively. For Category A, Rs 20 has been fixed per hour; Rs 30 has been fixed per day on monthly parking for category B and Rs 100 has been fixed for Category C parking on daily basis.
The court has also directed the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu to implement the directions on the same analogy and regulate the paid parking slots in the same manner.
Court however made it clear that no roadside parking shall be available for day and monthly basis while as the authorities make it available for the hourly basis parking.
Divisional Commissioner in its minutes of meeting has showed 7 parking spaces in category-A, 31 parking spaces in category-B and 25 parking spaces in category-C.
Court directed the authorities for procuring electronic machines in these parking spaces in order to record the date and time of parking of vehicles.
With regard to opening of CNG outlets a report was filed and after its perusal, court observed the same is not in tune with the directions of the court and directed for filing of fresh one by or before next date of hearing. Awaiting the decision of the Government on notifying the policy on the above lines, court said it the responsibility of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir to ensure that all the roads, are made free from parking.
Imposing complete ban on 15-25 year-old commercial vehicles, the authorities have submitted that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has launched a scheme under the name “Transport Subsidy Scheme for replacement of 15-year-old vehicles (Buses and Mini Buses)” and the owner of the bus or mini bus who is willing to replace his 15 years old vehicle can avail the benefit of 5 lac rupees subsidy and so far 71 of such owners have applied under the scheme.
The court directed respondents 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 compliance report must 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”, reads the order.

NUSRAT SIDIQ