Emphasises on imbibing new ways for dispensing justice in prevailing crisis

Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Gita Mittal today visited Doda district, reviewed the functioning of the court’s, besides held an interaction with the lawyers of the district.

At the outset the Chief justice took the salute of the guard of honour and after that reviewed the functioning of the established court’s in separate manner and also inspected the court rooms of the judge’s at both the locations i.e Doda and Bhaderwah.

Later on the Chief Justice held a interaction with the lawyers of both the places and listened their grievances which includes speedy completion of the lawyers chamber building, to setup a lift in the court complex of Doda, to fix the responsibility of maintenance of the newly constructed buildings on permanent basis, to provide the requisite man power to carry out cleanliness in and around the court complex of Doda, to construct the concrete structure of litigant waiting shed etc.

Responding to the issue of maintenance and cleanliness of the court buildings and toilets,the Chief Justice directed the DDC to take note of the matter on priority basis besides asked the DDC to out source/ depute the requisite man power to ensure the cleanliness of the buildings and toilets and its surrounding twice a day atleast.

Regarding the completion of the under construction lawyers chamber building,the Chief Justice directed the executing agencies to expedite the construction and complete the building in time bound manner, besides the Chief Justice assured the members of Bar association that their issues will be taken into consideration with utmost priority.

The Chief Justice also directed the DDC to ensure the construction of concrete litigant structure in place of the fabricated in the upcoming days, besides asked the judicial officers to ensure the provision of separate toilet facility for female staff as well as for litigants.

With regard to the resumption of Court work,the Chief Justice said that the district is in green zone and the district court’s are well empowered to take the final call in coordination with the Bar association members in this regard. The Chief Justice also asked them to follow all the necessary guidelines while resuming the court work besides asking them to resume the functioning without allowing the litigants.

The Chief Justice also emphasised the use of new ways in dispensation of the justice during the ongoing crises of Covid-19 and also directed the judges to work with zeal and enthusiasm in clearing the pendency of cases in the district.

Other’s who accompanied the Chief Justice during the visit were Registrar General J&K High Court Mr Jawad Ahmed, Principal District & Session Judge Bhaderwah Mr Ashok Kumar, District Magistrate Doda Dr Sagar D Doifode, Additional District Session Judge Mr Zabair Ahmed Raza,Chief Judicial Magistrate Doda Mr Manjeet Singh,Sub Judge Bhaderwah Ms Renu Dogra, DLSA SECRETARY Mr

Susheel Singh,District Mobile Magistrate Mr Touseef Ahmed Magrey, Munsiff Bhaderwah Mr Sandeep Singh Sen, SSP Doda Mr Mumtaz Ahmed, besides members of Bar associations.

Forests are known as the lungs of Earth because they absorb Carbon Dioxide and release Oxygen to the atmosphere. According to the forest department, Jammu and Kashmir have 20,230 square Kilometres of the area covered with forest while district Doda has 5,555 square kilometre area noted as forests. But due to deforestation, we are losing the forests day by day and it is not so far that the Earth lose their lungs. Deforestation is its peak in district Doda also but the concerned department is in a deep slumber.

On 28 June 2020, our Chenab Times team visited the upper hills of tehsil Kahara, where we found hundreds of trees lying down on the ground in our single day visit in the forests. If this happens continuously after some years, we would have nothing in the name of the forests here. People use chainsaws/cutters, these cutters cut a number of trees in a day. In far-flung areas, most of the people make timber smuggling as a source of income and the concerned department ignored that which looks like they have joined hands with them.

On 22 March 2020, timber smuggling in Tanta village of Kahara tehsil in Doda district reported by Lazawal (Urdu newspaper) and on 30 June 2020, another case of timber smuggling reported in village Dharawari in tehsil Bhalessa on JK Dastaan. These issues are highlighted but there were many other reports which is not highlighted due to some corrupt officials in forest department. According to a journalist (name held) in Bhalessa, some officials from forests officials offered bribe to him but when he refused to accept it, they started threatening him.

If the official do such cheap things, how will the corruption stops. Our forests will be bald off due to the loot of green gold by the corruption officials. As forests are known as Green Gold. If departments and administration will not take necessary actions this will result the same like “India was known as Golden Bird” and forests will remain an adage like it.