Will decide in 4 weeks on rehabilitation of mule owners: J&K Govt to SC

New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir Government Wednesday told the Supreme Court that it would take a decision within four weeks on the issue of rehabilitating mule owners operating along the track between Katra and Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu.
A bench of justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta was told that a state advisory council would be set up within two days and they would consider the rehabilitation plan prepared last October in its totality along with all other stakeholders, including representatives of mule owners.
The bench observed that mules have to be phased out to the extent possible and wondered as to why the rehabilitation plan prepared by the State in consultation with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and other stakeholders was not yet finalised.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Singh and advocate Shoeb Alam, appearing for Jammu and Kashmir, said that a decision in this regard would be taken within three weeks from the date of constitution of the state advisory coun