Srinagar: Senior Congress leader and former union minister Prof Saifuddin Soz on Saturday demanded replacement of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehtra in Article 35 A case in the Supreme Court.
In a statement here this afternoon Prof Soz said he met Governor Satya Pal Mali at Raj Bhavan here and brought to his notice certain matters of urgent public importance.
He said he pleaded strongly that Article 35-A was a great symbol of Peoples aspirations in the Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore, they would go to any extent to protect this Act.
He said in this connection, I suggested that ASG Tushar Mehta be replaced by a person who was well qualified and aware of the sensitivities of the people for protection of this act.
Prof Soz said the Governor assured him that he would ensure that a suitable person would represent the case in the Supreme Court.
The other matters that I brought to his notice included healthcare system at S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), particularly, the patients of cancer by provision of adequate resources. I told the Governor that doctors there were both qualified and motivated, but this premier hospital suffered for lack of resources. I suggested that the Advisor concerned should hold discussions with the faculty to improve the system, he said.
Prof also claimed that he also suggested that since Water Bodies in Kashmir were in bad shape, a qualified person be appointed as Vice Chairman of LAWDA. I told him that apart from Dal and Wullar, which were in bad shape, lakes like Gilsar and Khushalsar be taken up for immediate attention to stop further deterioration.
“I further brought to his notice the RTI Act, which needs to be applied to all Administrative Departments. In this connection, I suggested that urgent action be taken to seek vacation of the stay granted by a single judge, several years ago, against its application to J&K Bank and several other Departments.I also invited his attention to the Master Plan for Srinagar and suggested that a committee of experts be set up for this task”, the former union minister said.
The Governor assured me, since all these matters were of utmost public importance, he would take up these for resolution, Prof Soz claimed.