Srinagar, April 23 -- "The trees growing on roadside are not in 'non natural use of the land or an hazardous activity' to attract the principle of strict liability," the High Court held.

In its plea, the family from Pattan in Baramulla district had submitted that their 18-year-old daughter was walking on the road on 20 March, 2012 when, due to heavy winds, a poplar tree fell on her and injured her critically along with some other persons. She was shifted to hospital (SKIMS) by the relatives but succumbed to words three days later, they said.

They had submitted that the Public Works Department (PWD) failed in maintaining the trees, which were old and also in a half-broken condition. They claimed that due to "negligence and carelessness",...