SC sets up panel to asses Jammu and Kashmir floods

The Supreme Court Wednesday constituted a five-member committee that will make a comprehensive assessment of the situation of the flood-ravaged areas of Jammu and Kashmir and report to the court.

An apex court bench headed by Chief Justice R.M. Lodha said that the committee will visit all the flood-affected areas for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and submit its interim report in two weeks.

The court said the committee will comprise a senior registrar of Jammu and Kashmir High Court posted at Srinagar, secretary of the department of revenue, relief and rehabilitation of the state government, a nominee of the central government and the presidents of the bar associations of Sringar and Jammu regions.

Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi will inform the name of the nominee of the central government within three days.

The interim report of this committee will also be submitted to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, which can pass appropriate orders that it deems fit. The court said the high court proceedings will not be impeded by the hearing of the matter before it.