STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding difficulties of deaf and dumb population of Paralkote village in Poonch, a Division Bench of J&K High Court Jammu Wing comprising Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Mohan Lal directed for taking effective steps as directed vide order dated 15.02.2021 within two weeks positively.
It is worthwhile to mention here that on February 15, 2021, the Division Bench observed that on basis of some news item published on November 29, 2018 in context to village Paralkot in District Poonch that a number of people there are deaf and dumb, a suo moto action was taken by the court. As per a study, the village comprises about 140 persons having 23 families, out of which 16 persons are deaf and dumb.
DB further observed that status report on record indicates that the Government has sanctioned a pension of Rs 1,000 per month to each of them. Apart from this, there is a proposal to set up Vocational Skill Development Courses as rehabilitation measure and for the same a sum of Rs 3,25,000 has also been sanctioned. However, we do not know if the said sanctioned amount has actually been released and Vocational Skill Development Courses have been started, DB said, seeking a fresh affidavit in this regard. DB further observed that none of the report on record however indicates as to what measures Government proposes to take to cure occurrence of this impairment in village, which is said to be of hereditary nature. Deputy AG submitted that Institute of Human Genomics, University of Jammu is studying the matter but on account of COVID-19 pandemic, the report could not be submitted. DB after hearing Deputy AG, directed for filing fresh action taken report along with report of University of Jammu bringing on record the suggestions or proposals of the Government which are intended to be taken to eliminate aforementioned impairment from village.