HC treats letter on Ladakh’s environment, ‘boundary dispute’ as PIL

Srinagar, July 25: Taking its cognisance, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh has treated a letter as ‘Public Interest Litigation’ (PIL), seeking to save Ladakh’s environment, ecology, and land from encroachers and resolve the “boundary dispute between district Kargil in Ladakh and district Ganderbal in Kashmir”.

Hearing the PIL, a division bench of acting Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Rajnesh Oswal issued notice to Ladakh UT’s Chief Secretary, its Principal Secretary to the

Forest Department, and the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) besides Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kargil, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, and Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal.

Advocate Rehana Qayoom appearing vice Deputy Solicitor General (DSGI) T M Shamsi, accepted notice on behalf of Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary Forest Department and Additional Director General of Police Ladakh besides Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, while Government Advocate (GA) Illyas Nazir Laway accepted the same on behalf of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and DC Ganderbal.

In response to their submission to file a response to the PIL, the court listed the matter on August 28 and till then the authorities have to respond to the plea.

A letter under Ref No 122-24/LAHDC/Kgl dated July 1, 2024, under the subject ‘Save Ladakh’s environment, ecology, and land from encroachers and resolve the boundary dispute between district Kargil of Ladakh and district Ganderbal of J&K’ had been addressed to the Chief Justice by Abdul Wahid in his capacity as Councillor, 2-Bhimbet Constituency, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil.

The letter was placed before the Chief Justice (Acting) and it was directed to be treated as PIL and listed before the appropriate bench.

In the letter, deep concern had been expressed over the safety of the environment and ecology of Ladakh.

It was said in the letter that the residents of district Ganderbal have encroached upon the land of Ladakh under the garb that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had divided the snow area land into equal proportions and this action on the part of the inhabitants of Ganderbal had endangered the flora and fauna of the Ladakh region which was being a threat to the environment and ecology of the region.

Further, it had been pleaded that the traffic movement and allied rules governing the subject were being applied to impede only Ladakh people who were made to suffer from various aspects whereas the tourist vehicles as well as heavy vehicles without any restrictions were being allowed to move throughout the year.