Jammu and Kashmir High Court has appreciated the efforts of governments of J&K and Ladakh against coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and lauded the role of district administrations, police and Legal Services Authority in ensuring continuity of essential services to the people.
Hearing a plea via video conference, the Coram comprisingChief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajnesh Oswal sought report from thegovernment on availability of safety equipment to healthcare professionals andensuring provision of care to dependents/families of healthcare and governmentpersonnel or officials engaged in the Covid-19 management, an official handoutsaid.
Canteens/Kitchens in hospitals
It also called for considering the possibility of running24-hour canteens/kitchens in all hospitals/institutions to enable provision ofthe necessities of the healthcare and other personnel engaged in addressing theCovid-19 issues.
The High Court directed Administrative Secretary Health andMedical Education to look into this matter and submit a report.
Needs of officials’ families
The Coram observed that health officials and other personnelengaged in the Covid-19 management require to be out of homes way beyond normaleight-hour duty routines and therefore it becomes necessary to create anetwork/body of persons who would attend to the needs of the familymembers/dependents of all personnel (including those in the healthcareservices) attending to Covid-19 issues. It directed the AdministrativeSecretary Social Welfare to examine and take a decision on creation ofmachinery for addressing the aspect. “The administration could look to theNGOs/citizen volunteers for mobilising a proper system for this and creation(of) an e-request dedicated mechanism for interaction. A nodal officer wouldneed to be identified for this purpose who would monitor the working of thesystem,” the Coram added.
Safety equipment
With regard to availability of safety equipment, the Coramdirected the Department of Health and Medical Education to inform the courtregarding the availability of personal protection equipment for the safety ofall healthcare workers.
“The steps taken to ensure availability of equipment as alsothe proposals for ensuring the same to all healthcare professionals in Jammuand Kashmir as well as Ladakh should be placed before us before the next dateof hearing,” the Coram said.
Safety of doctors
On the issue of safety and care of and violence againstprofessionals and clinical establishments, the High Court observed that “it ispainful to note that such a critical matter is being randomly addressed and 19legislations are in existence in separate States with reports on the mattershowing hardly any prosecutions.”
Epidemic Diseases Act 1897
“To address the basic issues relating to the currentpandemic, it has been necessary to take recourse to the Epidemic Diseases Actof 1897. This legislation has to be visited in the light to technologydevelopments and the current experiences. Thus even the provisions of thisenactment need a serious re-examination,” it said.
Prepare public
“There are no confirmed reports about the progression of theinfection or life of the virus. It is therefore imperative to prepare thepublic about the permissible conduct upon removal of the restrictions (partialor complete); progression of the COVID-19 virus infection and life of thevirus; possibility of carriers existing and infecting despite the lockdown andall related information,” the Coram said. It directed Administrative SecretaryHealth and Medical Education Department; Administrative Secretary SocialWelfare Department; Director Information Department; Member Secretary JK StateLegal Services Authority to immediately take appropriate action as may berequired in this aspect. “The action plan in this regard shall be placed beforeus by the Director Information before the next date of hearing,” the Coramdirected.
On Prisoners
The Coram called for urgent implementation of Jammu andKashmir Suspension of Sentence Rules, 2020, and steps for grant of specialparole to prisoners as envisaged therein on priority.
It called upon concerned Principal District and SessionsJudges to ensure that all visiting judges in the Jail and also the concernedcourts take immediate action based on the recommendation of the High-PoweredCommittee (appointed in terms of the order dated 23rd March 2020 of the SupremeCourt of India) with regard to prisoners.
Pollen from Poplar trees
Regarding the issue of impact of pollen from poplar trees,the Coram said that it has been submitted that pollen may have the potential tohold the Covid-19 virus and result in aggravation of the spread of thisinfection as well.
“Let this aspect be examined by the Administrative SecretaryHealth and Medical Education, and, if the impact as suggested is correct,immediate remedial action be taken,” it added.
Stranded pilgrims
With regard to 400 stranded pilgrims at Shri Mata VaishnoDevi Shrine, Katra, the court was informed that the local administration took acall and all these persons stand shifted to an Ashram at Bantalab at Jammu. Theboarding and lodging of these pilgrims /persons is being taken care of by thedistrict administration.
Indian nationals abroad
The High Court recorded deep appreciation for the tremendousefforts of the Indian Consulate in New York City and the Embassy of India atWashington DC and also the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi inprioritizing and addressing all concerns of Indian nationals abroad and who arein the United States of America.
DCs Jammu, Srinagar hailed
The court also appreciated the initiative, drive andunstinted hard work of Sushma Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner (Jammu) and DrShahid Iqbal Chaudhary, Deputy Commissioner (Srinagar) for their efforts in thetwo main densely populated cities of Jammu and Srinagar for efficiently leadingto detection of the infected, identification of the sources of infection andensuring continuity of all essential services in the districts.