The Supreme Court on Friday took stock of the relief and rehabilitation measures undertaken in Jammu & Kashmir and asked Centre to consider terming it a national disaster in order to immediately reach out basic amenities to lakhs of people still stranded in several parts in the Valley.
Dealing with a set of three petitions filed by NGOs and lawyers, the bench headed by Chief Justice RM lodha said, “A calamity and disaster as huge as this deserves national response so that immediate relief is made available to the victims of floods.” The Court asked Centre to consider suggestions given by the petitioner to have a Unified Agency to coordinate relief and rehabilitation and involve States in the rescue and relief operations to supplement the “commendable” efforts of the Armed Forces.
The bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and Rohington Nariman, sought assistance of the Attorney General to ensure that the constitutional offices of judiciary and state executive should be made functional at the earliest.As the HC building and the State Assembly at Srinagar is submerged in water, the Court asked AG Mukul Rohatgi to make provisional arrangements for them to hold sittings and deal with the unprecedented situation facing the State.
lauding the Army and Air Force’s efforts, the bench reiterated the concern of the petitioners that over five lakh persons were still stranded without food, water, medicines, fuel and communication services.