Srinagar Dec 18 : With an aim of remembering the noted legal expert ,trade unionist, environmentalist and noted RTI activist Syed Nasrullah Shah Environmental Policy Group( EPG) – Kashmir’s leading eco-advocacy group – organised an event titled Life & Times of Syed Nasarullah Shah in Srinagar on Saturday.
Large number of retired bureaucrats , legal experts , civil society actors, faculty members of some educational institutions, activists, journalists and school & college students participated in the event. The former State Chief Information Commissioner Ghulam Rasool Sufi was the chief guest on the occasion while as Retired Principal Chief Conservator Forests G H Kango, Former FCIK President & prominent Civil Society member Syed Shakeel Qalandar & Chairman RTI Movement Dr Raja Muzaffar were the guests of honour. The EPG Convenor Faiz Bakshi presided over the function. Nadeem Qadri environmental lawyer & Peerzada Fayaz moderated the event.
EPG-Nassarullah Shah Save Nature Awards were presented to some individuals and organisations for their significant contributions towards environmental conservation.
The day was celebrated to pay tributes to Syed Nasrullah with regard to his great contribution to society by way of filing public Interest Litigations (PIL) on various social issues which included environmental issues through his organisation J&K Peoples Forum and Environmental Policy Group (EPG).
G R Sufi former CIC while paying great tribute to Syed Nasarullah said that he was not fully aware of his great legal acumen while being posted as Chief Information Commissioner
“I regret not having more interactions with him then. He used to come as appellant before the commission and would always argue the case logically and with legal acumen, but I never knew there was a treasure of knowledge inside him and that I came to know while listening to speakers here in the event ” said Sufi
G R Sufi specifically referred to the case of J&K Bank which was declared as Public Authority by the full bench of State Information Commission (SIC) and Nasarullah was one of the complainants in that case.
Former Advisor to Governor and retired State Chief Information Commissioner Khurshid Ganai addressed the event from Jammu. He said that it is great to remember and honour Nasarullah Shah after his death as he was a great RTI activist.
“I know him as RTI activist and he would come to Information Commission , he was not only bright and intelligent man but he was a brave activist who would always be pursuing RTI appeals with along with Raja Muzaffar Bhat ”
Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) G H Kango said that the best tribute to Syed Nasarullah is to work on environment conservation and sustainable use of our natural resources . Syed Shakil Qalander also paid a glowing tribute to Syed Nasrullah during his address. He said when Maharaja handed over the reins of J&K state to local rulers all our wetlands , forests and other natural resources were in the best condition but in the elected Govt’s there has been a huge disaster and people need to ponder upon it. Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat read out a paper in the memory of Syed Nasrullah and explained his role in detail as RTI activist , environmental activist , crusader for senior citizens, farmers and poor people. Dr M M Shuja, General Secretary Peoples Forum , Advocate Shafqat Nazir , Perzada Fayaz, Javid Zareef also spoke on the occasion.
Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat , Ajaz Ahmad Dar Patron Central Auqaf Committee Tarzoo Sopore, Social Concern Group Manasbal and some other individuals and organisations were given EPG- Nasarullah Shah Save Nature Awards .
