Himachal Pradesh High Court today directed the State to file consolidated affidavit or status report within two weeks in the matter pertaining to lawlessness and deteriorating condition prevailing in tourist spot Kufri near Shimla. The Court further directed the Committee headed by the Chief Secretary to the Government of Himachal Pradesh to convene a meeting to discuss the suggestion made by the Amicus Curie in this matter.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed these orders on a petition taken up suo moto by the Court as Public Interest Litigation on a letter written to the Chief Justice by Rakesh Mehta a resident of Kufri. The petitioner has alleged in the petition that Kufri is well known tourist destination and large number of tourists visit this spot every year. A large amount of money from the public exchequer is being spent on the development of tourism activities in this area by the Government through department of Tourism and Special Area Development Authority.
The petitioner has further alleged in the petition that the condition of the area has been deteriorating day by day. There are large number of horse in the area which litters all the roads, paths and public places with horse dung. Most of these horses are being plied by minors and persons who indulged in oral and physical abuse with tourist and local inhabitants.
Despite this fact being in knowledge of the District Administration no concrete steps are being taken to restrict the number of these horses. The petitioner has prayed in the petition that necessary directions may be issued to the district and police administration to check the menace of horse. The High Court further listed this matter for April 18th, 2017.
