Says it doesn’t want a Uttarakhand-like tragedy in J&K

The J-K High Court has asked the state government to take a policy decision about the ordinance banning polythene use in the state.

In the policy decision, the court said, the state was expected to explain whether as per the ordinance SRO-182, the ban was only on use of polythene carry bags or it also included ban on polythene used for making packing material.

Wants Pollution Control Board to crack down on defaulters

Taking note of the fact that hotels at the famous tourist resort Gulmarg are running without sewage treatment plants (STPs), the High Court has said it is “amazed” by the non-compliance with the Pollution Control Board (PCB) rules in this regard.

A report submitted to the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) by the Drugs and Food Control Organisation (DFCO), a state government agency, has revealed that 438 medicines, including inject-able drugs have been found ‘not of standard quality’ (NSQ) after analysis over the past seven years. These samples were lifted randomly by officials of the organisation from government-run hospitals and chemist shops.

The SHRC is hearing a complaint by a civil society group, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Forum, filed in the wake of the spurious drugs scam and had asked for a factual report from the authorities concerned.

The J&K Government has said that it is considering banning the use of gutkha, pan masala and tobacco products in the state. The views of the Finance Department are being sought as the ban involves huge financial implications.

This has been indicated by the government in its response to a public interest litigation before the J-K High Court which has sought a ban on the manufacture and sale of gutkha and other smokeless tobacco products in the state.