Jammu & Kashmir High Court seeks amicus report on Dal lake PIL pending since 2002

The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has sought a report on the progress made in a 2002 Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition concerning the preservation and conservation of Dal Lake [Syed Iqbal Tahir Geelani V/s State of J&K]

A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani observed that the PIL was pending for the last 24 years, during which multiple orders were passed to improve the condition of the lake. It thus sought a "brief factual note" from the amicus curiae about the latest position in the matter.

“This Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been pending in this Court for the last 24 years and many developments have taken place. There are multiple orders passed from time to time, including those relating to improving the condition of the Dal Lake," the Court noted in an order passed on July 2.

The Bench requested Senior Advocate ZA Shah, the amicus curiae, to file the factual note before August 31.

“With a view to have a complete perspective of the litigation, we request the learned Amicus Curiae to put up a brief factual note indicating as to how this public interest litigation has proceeded and what more is required to be done in the matter,” the Bench said.

The PIL, filed in 2002 by Syed Iqbal Tahir Geelani, seeks judicial intervention for the protection and restoration of Dal Lake in Srinagar.

Senior Advocate ZA Shah appeared with advocate Ahra Syed.

Senior Advocate Altaf Naik with advocate Zia Ahmad appeared in a connected matter for the petitioner.

Advocate Ifra Meelad also appeared for an applicant.

[Read Order]