JK floods: HC asks govt reply on PIL for probe into negligence

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today issued a notice to the state government on a PIL seeking investigation into alleged criminal negligence by officers in taking measures during the devastating floods in the state.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey directed the state government to file a reply before October 13, the next date of hearing.
The notice was accepted by Additional Advocate General Reyaz Ahmad on behalf of the state government.
"Reply is to be filed by or before adjourned date," the court directed. The PIL, filed by advocate Azhar-ul-Amin, maintained that officers responsible for acts of omission and commission deserved to be punished appropriately.

The PIL sought direction for constitution of special investigation team to probe the role of officers guilty of criminal negligence in taking measures and further punishing those officers in accordance with law who are found guilty in such type of criminal negligence.
It claimed that the measures required to be followed in accordance with flood manual were not taken and "the acts of omission and commission of the state government ranging from criminal negligence to direct acts of interference with flood protection measures, structural and non-structural has caused inundation of most parts of the capital city of Srinagar".