DB seeks fresh ATR in PIL on deaf, dumb populace of Paralkote

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding difficulties of deaf and dumb population of Paralkote village in Poonch, a Division Bench of J&K High Court Jammu Wing comprising Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Javed Iqbal Wani, directed Deputy AG K D S Kotwal to file fresh Action Taken Report (ATR) along with report of University of Jammu bringing on record suggestions or proposals of Government, intended to be taken so as to get rid of above impairment from the village. When PIL came-up for hearing, the Division Bench observed that on basis of some news-item published on November 29, 2018 in context to village Paralkot of District Poonch, that most of the population there is deaf and dumb, a suo-moto action was taken by the court. The study revealed that village consists of about 140 persons, having 23 families, out of which 16 are deaf and dumb. DB further observed that status report on record indicated that Government has sanctioned a pension of Rs 1,000 per month to each of them. Apart from it, there is a proposal to set-up Vocational Skill Development Courses as rehabilitation measures, for which a sum of Rs 3,25,000 has been sanctioned. However, we do not know if aforesaid sanctioned amount has actually been released and Vocational Skill Development Courses have been started, DB observed.
DB further observed that none of the report on record indicated as to what measures the Government proposes to take to cure the occurrence of this impairment in village, which is said to be of hereditary genetic nature. Deputy AG submitted that Institute of Human Genomics, University of Jammu is studying the matter but on account of COVID-19 pandemic, report could not be submitted. DB after hearing Deputy AG, directed to file fresh Action Taken Report along with report of University of Jammu bringing on record the suggestions or proposals of Government, intended to be taken to get rid of above impairment from the village.