Jammu, Aug 12: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (Jammu Wing) will hear on September 18 a contempt petition filed by Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed alleging non-compliance of the court's directions for safety steps after the 2021 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi stampede in which 12 pilgrims were killed.
The Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice (Acting) Tashi Rabstan and Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi directed the Registry of High Court to trace out, scan and attach the statement of facts filed by UT Administration through Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. of J&K, General Administration Department.
Petitioner Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed has alleged non-compliance of the court judgment dated April 26, 2023, directing the J&K government to take effective steps in furtherance of the decision/recommendations of a three-member committee constituted to ensure the safety of the pilgrims and devotees.
The committee was assigned the task of examining in detail the causes and reasons behind the stampede at the Bhawan of Mata Vaishno Devi, Katra, on the intervening night of December 31, 2021 and January 1, 2022 which resulted in the death of 12 pilgrims and injuries to several devotees.
Advocate Ahmed while appearing in person submitted that he has received a copy of the statement of facts filed by Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. of J&K, General Administration Department, which is not in tune with the judgment passed by the Division Bench on April 26, 2023.
He further submitted that the statement of facts is completely silent about the action taken against the delinquent Officers/Officials on whose negligence, 12 innocent devotees lost their lives in the stampede.
Government Advocate Eishaan Dadhichi, appearing for the UT Administration, submitted that he has filed the statement of facts on July 9, 2024.
The Division Bench after considering the submissions of both sides, directed the Registry to trace out, scan and attach the statement of facts with the Contempt petition.
The Court also directed the Registry to re-notify the instant Contempt petition on September 18.
