Jharkhand High Court
Babloo Kumar vs Vrs on 27 February, 2018
Author: Aparesh Kumar Singh
Bench: Aparesh Kumar Singh, Ratnaker Bhengra
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
W.P.(PIL) No. 5083 of 2011
Babloo Kumar ............Petitioner
Vrs.
The Union of India & others ......... Respondent
.......
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE APARESH KUMAR SINGH HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RATNAKER BHENGRA For the Petitioner :
For the Respondents : M/s Ajit Kumar, A.G., Vikash Kumar, J.C to A.G. 42/27.02.2018 Pursuant to our order dated 06.02.2018, Mr. Manish Ranjan, Secretary, Department of Tourism, Government of Jharkhand, Ranchi and Mr. Sanjeev Kr. Besra, Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Jharkhand, Ranchi are present to assist the Court on various aspects of the matter relating to promotion of tourism in the State in the larger framework of Tourism Policy, 2015.
2. Various inputs have been shared by the Officers of the Tourism Department towards development of Eco-tourism, Religious tourism and creation of Tourism circuits linking important places covered there under. It has also been conveyed that involvement of local people is being undertaken by imparting skill development training. The Government of India under its 'Swadesh Darshan' scheme promotes development of tourism in such places.
3. An affidavit has also been filed yesterday, which indicates that concrete plans with regard to the promotion of Eco-tourism, specifically in places like Netarhat, Mc Cluskieganj and Parasnath Hills etc. are being undertaken. Similar development of Religious tourism in places such as Deoghar, Basukinath and other religious places of Buddhism and Jainism are also being undertaken.
4. However, from the discussion made, it is also evident that a holistic approach is required to be undertaken in furtherance of the Tourism Policy to ensure that a balanced and regulated development of such tourist places and eco-tourist / religious-tourist circuit is made keeping into mind that the bio- diversity and ecology of such places are not destroyed. At the same time the tourism activity is able to sustain the economy of the local people there. There are models available in other States, one of which has also been brought to their notice i.e. the Mussoorie and Dehradun Development Authority under which the entire tourist circuit of Mussoorie and Dehradun have been developed and are being regulated. The observations made by the Court on various aspects of the matter have also been taken note of by the Officers of the Tourism Department.
-2-5. We may also like to mention here that the Art and Culture Department has merged into the Tourism Department on administrative reshuffle two years back. The whole concept of growth of tourism is to be undeniably linked with the Culture and heritage of these places. The Secretary, Tourism Department has assured that a concrete plan would be developed and implemented after approval of the competent authority keeping all aspects of the matter in mind.
6. We accordingly adjourn the matter for 6 weeks for the Respondents to come out with their concrete plan in this respect. Let the matter appear on 10 th April, 2018 as unfixed case. Presence of the Officers of the Department of Tourism is dispensed with. Let a copy of this order be handed over to learned Advocate General.
(Aparesh Kumar Singh, J.) ( Ratnaker Bhengra, J.) A.Mohanty