HC seeks complete status report, grants GoI, state govt seven days

Restoration work of Mubarak Mandi

JAMMU : The Division Bench Jammu of the State High Court today granted a week time period to Government of India and State government to tell the Court exact status on the complete restoration of Mubarak Mandi complex in Jammu.

The HC Coram comprising Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Kumar directed respondents to file affidavit giving the complete and detailed timeline within a week period for complete restoration of historic Mubarak Mandi complex.

The HC division bench, after hearing Adv GS Thakur for the PIL whereas ASGI Sindu Sharma for the Union of India and Government Advocate Amit Chopra for the state, observed that counsel for the respondents submitted that he shall be filing an affidavit with the complete timeline.

“However, he has given us a copy of the project timeline for the restoration of the Mubarak Mandi complex. As per the timeline, it appears that the entire work would be completed by March 31, 2023,” the DB observed.

The court observed that various stages of work have been indicated such as signing of agreement, submission of inception report, submission of draft master plan for the complex, review and approval of the draft master plan by MMJHS, submission of the final master plan for the complex, submission of the draft statement of conservation strategies for each structure, review and approval of the draft statement of conservation strategies by MMJHS, submission of tender documents for immediate works package-1 (Lot 1 to 4), review and approval of tender documents by MMJHS, tendering process, opening of tender, review and award of work and ultimately the execution of the entire project.

The court directed to file the affidavit giving the complete and detailed timeline within a week. Further progress in the matter will be indicated in the status report before the next date of hearing, the court observed.