New Delhi, Sept 23: The Supreme Court has dismissed a writ petition filed by Panun Kashmir Trust under Article 32, which sought parity in age-relaxation benefits for displaced Kashmiri Pandits in recruitment to Central Government jobs at par with victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the 2002 Gujarat riots.
A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta declined to entertain the plea, observing that such issues fall within the ambit of policy decisions and cannot be adjudicated under Article 32.
At the outset of the hearing, Justice Nath orally remarked, “Is this in the scope of Article 32? Is it for the Supreme Court or High Court to decide? These are policy decisions to be taken by the Government.”
The petition, moved by Panun Kashmir on behalf of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, argued that thousands were forced to leave their ancestral homes in the Valley during the turmoil of the late 1980s and early 1990s. It further alleged that the exclusion of Kashmiri Hindus from age-relaxation benefits amounts to hostile discrimination.
The Court, however, maintained that the matter lies within the domain of policymakers and dismissed the petition. [KNT]
