HC directs govt to take action against persons concealing travel history
Div Com visits 24x7 Covid-19 call centre at Old Secretariat
Jammu/Srinaga: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Tuesday directed the authorities to enforce government notifications/instructions/orders regarding all disclosures including travel history, quarantining and isolation stringently and take strict measures to ensure that all requirements are strictly enforced for containing the spread of coronavirus disease.
Hearing a PIL through video-conferencing from Srinagar, the coram of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sindhu Sharma in its order said that judicial notice can be taken of the several complaints being made in the electronic and the print media with regard to persons who are concealing their foreign travel history in order to escape the mandatory quarantine, even though they are required to disclose their travel history.
“Some of such persons have been found to be infected and huge public resources have been expended on tracking not only these persons but their several contacts during the period upto their detection,” the order read.
The High Court has also directed the BSNL to ensure that every effort is made to operationalize the video-conferencing facilities in all the courts within the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir as well as Ladakh at the earliest possible.
The court directed the Secretary PHE to look into the water supply roster and ensure equitable distribution of water to all residents of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Similar examination may be undertaken in the Union Territory of Ladakh as well for maintaining proper hygiene, the order read.
The Department of Social Welfare was directed to ensure that best possible care is given to Old Age Homes, Observation Homes, Nari Niketans, Bal Ashrams, Orphanages, Blind schools and other such institutions.
Meanwhile, in the backdrop of threat from the deadly coronavirus, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole today visited round-the-clock operating Covid-19 call centre established by the government to create awareness and inform people about the precautions required to be taken against COVID-19.
He was informed that the call centre is working in three shifts and is manned by an adequate number of doctors and paramedical staff who are providing information to people round the clock. Besides, toll-free numbers have been set up to receive any kind of information and respond to distress calls by way of providing counseling.
He was further informed that the Call Centre is ready to deal with any situation and is following the standard operating procedure prescribed by the government.
The Divisional Commissioner directed concerned to maintain proper inventory besides show dedication and inter-departmental coordination while receiving distress calls.
To reduce any eventuality, he also directed them to share real time information with the higher authorities.
