Kanoon Ki Dastak
Pulwama, April 21, 2025 — A local court has granted interim relief to Pulwama MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para, who filed a civil suit seeking a permanent injunction against the construction of an overhead height barrier on the Naina-Awantipora link road. The court restrained the authorities from proceeding with the installation until further orders.
Para, acting on behalf of aggrieved villagers from Reshipora, Dogripora, and other surrounding areas, alleged that the construction was initiated based on a forged letterhead of the Markazi Auqaf Committee Reshipora, fraudulently used to request the restriction of heavy traffic movement on the road.
According to court proceedings, the forged letter triggered a series of official actions, culminating in a government order authorizing the construction of a height barrier, despite multiple representations and protests from local residents.
The petition argues that the barrier would critically disrupt essential transportation, affecting agricultural trade, sawmill operations, and access for emergency vehicles. It was also noted that the region is flood-prone, and the barrier could impede evacuation and emergency response during natural disasters.
Despite being made aware of the forgery and the potential consequences, government officials — including the Executive Engineer R&B Division Awantipora — proceeded with tenders and preparations for construction. The tender was awarded, and work was expected to begin shortly.
The court noted serious concerns over the forged application and possible administrative negligence, observing that failure to intervene could lead to “extreme and irreparable hardships” for the affected communities. It restrained the defendants from proceeding with the barrier installation until the next hearing.
The court emphasized the need to protect public interest, especially in light of the suspicious origins of the project and the potentially devastating consequences on local transport, trade, and emergency access.