Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 14: The State High Court today directed personal appearance of Directors of Health and Family Welfare Kashmir and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) Department, Kashmir and supply of essential commodities, including surgical material and to give adequate treatment to the injured persons who are getting treatment in various hospitals.
The division bench of the High Court, Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice M H Attar directed the two Directors to remain personally present along with a status report tomorrow at 10.30 am on hardships faced by people due to shortage of essentials.
The court said that it is the responsibility of the State to provide essentials to the people during restrictions. “As could be seen that restrictions are in place for past over five days, not only the people residing in the Valley but also the visitors/tourists are put to serious predicament. It is the responsibility of the State, while maintaining law and order, to see that the people in the Valley are not put to sufferings due to want of essential commodities, baby food, medicines etc. It is also a fact that several injured persons are admitted in different hospitals for getting treatment”, the order reads.
“Hence we direct the State to ensure supply of essential commodities, including surgical material and to give adequate treatment to the injured persons who are getting treatment in various hospitals”, reads the order.
The High Court directions were passed in response to a petition. “This petition is taken up on the basis of a letter addressed by the J&K Poeples Forum through its General Secretary M M Shuja, stating that due to imposition of restrictions under Section 144 Cr PC in the Valley, the people are put to hardships due to non-supply of essential commodities, like shortage of vegetable, baby food, including shortage of medicines and life saving drugs in the hospitals”, reads the court order.
The order reads: “The party in person, during the course of arguments submitted that even the Government officers, particularly those dealing with the essential commodities i.e Health and Family Welfare and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department are not functioning and there is nobody to take care of the supply of above referred items and, therefore, this Court may issue directions to the State Government to ensure the supply of above referred items to the people residing in the Valley.”
Court issued notice to Secretary Health and Family Welfare and Directors of Health and CAPD. “The Advocate General, who is present in the Court, was directed to notice on behalf of the State as well as on behalf of Secretary to Government, Health and Medical Education Department, the Secretary to Government, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, the Director of Health and Family Welfare Kashmir and Director Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department Kashmir”, reads the order.
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