The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has sought guidelines regarding the installation of mobile towers in Ladakh.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, seeking removal of mobile tower near public health center in Kargil, a division bench of Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Sanjay Dhar said that it will see whether the guidelines or the rules formulated for the installation of the mobile towers have been violated or not.
The observation followed arguments by advocate Syed Manzoor for the petitioner and senior advocate N. A. Beigh, appearing for the BSNL.
Advocate Manzoor submitted that no tower can be installed within the close vicinity of the Medical Health Centre or Hospital. He said the tower in question was just adjacent to the public health facility.
Conversely, advocate N A Beigh submitted that no guidelines have been violated and that the tower was installed on the request of the villagers’ way back in the year 2011. He said that the petitioner cannot have any grievance once it has been installed and had remained operational till 2019.
“Be that as it may, we have to see whether the guidelines or the rules formulated for the installation of the mobile towers have been violated or not,” the court said as per GNS.
At this moment, Assistant Solicitor General of India, Tahir Majid Shamsi, prayed for months’ time to file objections and for bringing on record rules or guidelines regarding the installation of mobile towers in Ladakh region. While granting him the month’s time, the court posted the PIL for further consideration on September 1.
Among others, the petitioner has sought direction on Secretary Telecommunication New Delhi, Chief General Manager Bharan Sanchar Nigam Limited Jammu and Telecommunication District Manager Leh to remove the mobile tower which according to him has been installed in close proximity of New Type of Public Health Centre Batalik Kargil. The petitioner has also sought re-installing the town as per the norms and guidelines. (GNS)
