HC seeks report from J&K Bank on availability of cash in ATMs

Jammu and Kashmir Bank has been asked by the High Court to furnish a status report on the availability of cash in ATMs and functioning of its branches in Kashmir Valley.
Normal life remained affected in Kashmir Valley due to protests and curfew after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8. 45 people have died in clashes between protesters and security forces.
"It is noticed by this court that Jammu and Kashmir Bank, which is the major bank of the Valley having its ATMs in the entire Kashmir Valley, is not loading ATMs so as to enable the account/card holders to withdraw cash," a division bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court said in its order while hearing a PIL earlier this week.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar, directed for impleading the Managing Director of the bank as a respondent in the PIL so as to get the status report on the availability of cash in ATMs and the functioning of its branch offices.
It is also a fact that the branches of the bank are not functioning in order to facilitate withdrawal of money by the account holders.
The HC asked the state's Advocate General to communicate its order to the Managing Director of the bank and listed the matter for July 23.

The high court also noted that de-weeding operations in the famous Dal Lake had not been carried out by the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) since July 8.

It asked the Advocate General to ensure de-weeding in the Dal Lake.
On the supply of medicine to cancer patients, the high court observed that the supply of medicine to cancer patients registered in SKIMS, Soura is yet to streamlined.
The Advocate General said a total of 2,379 patients are registered with SKIMS and several of them have visited the institute for Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy.
He said those who are unable to visit the institute to collect medicine for a month will be supplied medicine through district health officers/officials.