The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has directed for the constitution of an expert committee for making the Chenab Valley roads accidents-free.

The Bench of Acting Chief Justice Tashi Rabstanand Justice Rajesh Sekhri was hearing a PIL that was registered pursuant to a letter sent by a social activist named Asif Iqbal Butt who was a resident of District Doda, Chenab Valley. The activist had raised concerns over the increasing cases of road accidents in the valley and had also stated that the government agencies are not taking adequate measures to prevent such unfortunate accidents.

Counsel S.S. Ahmed who appeared as Amicus Curiae apprised the Court that in the road mishap that occurred three people lost their lives as a car plunged into the river Chenab in the Gaddooarea of Doda.

AAG R. S. Jamwal appeared for Respondents 1 and 5, while Dy. AG DewakarSharma for Respondents 2, 6, and 7, Sr. AAG Monika Kohli appeared for Respondents 3 and 4 and DSGI Vishal Sharma appeared for Respondents 8 and 10.

The Court thus directed –

"… direct the respondents 1 and 2 to constitute a Committee of Experts which shall ascertain the reasons for repeated road accidents on Batote-Doda-Kishtwar Road. The Committee shall suggest measures which help to make the road accident-free.

A further direction is issued to respondents 1, 9, and 10 to erect rolling barriers/steel pillars on curved roads, also wherever culverts are found through Batote-Doda-KishtwarRoad."

The Court has listed the matter on February 1, 2023, as the next date of hearing.

Cause Title - Intakhab Ahmed Qazi v. State and others

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Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High CourtActing Chief Justice Tashi RabstanJustice Rajesh SekhriChenab Valley

Gurpreet Kaur