SrinagarTo ease traffic congestion, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has asked labour commissioner to submit within two weeks a proposal to government for closing down for entire day a particular market in Srinagar once a week and it shouldnt necessarily be Sunday or Friday.
A division bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey passed the direction after submissions by Krishan Lal, the Deputy Labour Commissioner, who was present in the Court.
He stated that under Section 13 of the Jammu & Kashmir Shops and Establishments Act 1966, every shop or establishment has to remain closed entirely on one day of the week.
Referring to Subsection (1) of Section 13 of the Act, he said, it requires an employer to choose between Sunday and Friday.
However, the court noticed that an amendment has been introduced by virtue of sub-section (1-a) which permits the Government, notwithstanding the provisions contained in sub-section (1), to by notification in the Government Gazette, fix any day other than Sunday and Friday to be the close day in respect of any area specified in the notification.
Accordingly, the Labour Commissioner is directed to present a proposal in line with point no.10 (by SSP Srinagar that labour Commissioner should enforce the slated holidays of different markets and trades on different days of the week so that traffic congestion is eased in different parts of the City), the court said and directed that the proposal shall be submitted within two weeks.
Meanwhile, as per the status report filed by SMC, installation of intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) Srinagar may get delayed. The court was informed that Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Ltd (DIMTS) was contracted for providing an ITMS. However, the court was informed that they are not executing the contract and the SMC has to take a call on whether they want to continue with that firm or look for alternative arrangements. What we need to stress upon is that putting in place an ITMS is of prime importance as that is the modern way of using technology for traffic management, the court added.
The initial plan, sources said, involves installing traffic violation cameras at several locations across the city to enable the traffic police to check traffic snarls especially during peak hours.
Regarding the issue of paid parking zones, the court was informed that it was being deliberated upon by SMC. Action needs to be taken, the court said.
Regarding removal of structures at Qamarwari Chowk which are creating congestion of traffic, the court was informed that the SSP Traffic, has to identify the structures which need to be removed. The SSP, Traffic, shall submit a list of such structures identifying them for removal to the Commissioner SMC, so that action in this regard can be taken up immediately, the court added.
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