The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to submit a status report on lawlessness and deteriorating condition at the famous tourist spot of Kufri near Shimla.
The HC also directed the committee, which is headed by the chief secretary, to convene a meeting to discuss the suggestion made by Amicus Curie in this matter.
A Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed these orders on suo moto petition taken up as Public Interest Litigation on a letter written to the Chief Justice by Rakesh Mehta, a resident of Kufri.
In his letter, the petitioner had stated that Kufri is well known tourist destination and a 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 the department of Tourism and Special Area Development Authority.
The petitioner has further alleged in the petition that the condition of the area is deteriorating day by day. There are a 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 of Nepali origin 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 urged the High Court to issue necessary directions to the district and police administration to check the menace of horse. The court listed this matter for hearing on 18 April.