Srinagar, Mar 27 (KNS): The Supreme Court Monday asked the Centre to consider other effective means than pellet guns for crowd control in Jammu and Kashmir to quell protesters.
A bench headed by Chief justice of India J.S. Khehar, justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul expressed concern over injuries suffered by minors involved in protests in the Kashmir Valley and asked the government what action has been taken by it against their parents.
Advocate General of Jammu and Kashmir, Jahangir Iqbal Ganaie told KNS that the apex court read the expert committee report and asked the centre government to come up with its stand on the recommendation of the committee.
He said that the expert committee has in its report suggested the use of other means like laser and PAVA shells than pellets guns for effective crowd control.
The apex court asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to file a detailed reply on what alternate effective steps could be taken to deal with such situation of agitating mobs in Jammu and Kashmir. The bench posted the hearing for April 10.
Earlier in December last year the apex court had asked the central government to submit the report of a team of experts about pellet guns.
The petition has been filed by Kashmir High Court Bar Association (KHBA) and whose top lawyers including Zaffar Ahmed Shah and Mian Qayoom and other senior lawyers are arguing the case.
The division bench of the supreme court comprising the then Chief Justice, Justic T S Thakur and Justice D Y Chanderchood court had in December last year had admitted the petition for hearing and directed the central government to submit the report of the team of experts constituted on the use of pellet guns before the court.
As reported already the central government had constituted a team on July 6, 2016 to recommend suitable replacement for the pellet guns and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (KHBA) had sought stay on the central government’s decision till the submission of the expert committee report before the court. (KNS)
Bar has filed petition on banning use of pellet guns in Kashmir