NGT didn't give full opportunity to present case: Amarnath

The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) today said the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had issued directives without giving a full opportunity to it to present its case.
The NGT on December 13 had declared the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas as a "silence zone" and prohibited religious offerings beyond the entry point.
However, on December 14, the tribunal clarified that it has not imposed any restriction including on chanting of mantras and singing of bhajans inside the cave shrine, following protests over its decision.
The NGT had said the only restriction imposed was that any devotee or any individual should maintain silence while standing in front of the "Amarnath Ji Maha Shivling", a natural formation in the cave.

Governor N N Vohra, Chairman of the SASB, has convened an emergency meeting of board on January 9 to discuss the recent directions passed by the National Green Tribunal.
SASB Chief Executive Officer Umang Narula said further legal action regarding filing of an appealshall be taken after discussions in the board, a statement said here today
"It was especially pointed out that the NGT had issued directions without first affording a full opportunity to the SASB to present its case," it said.
The board also took note of strong protests over NGT's directions, received from various social, religious and political organisations, the statement said.