Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 26: The State High Court today asked Government to take immediate steps for restoration of mobile network in Kashmir as its snapping is causing immense problems to the people.
The division bench of Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice MH Attar while expressing their serious concern over the snapping of mobile connectivity in the Valley asked the Government to take immediate measures for restoration of mobile connectivity in the Valley.
The court while dealing with a PIL filed by an NGO, Peoples Forum, situation in the Valley observed that the Government should consider the problem of communication which is being faced by the general public and Government in this regard should take effective and immediate measures for restoring the mobile connectivity in the Valley.
“Think on your feet. Restore the communication area wise if you have any difficulty as it is affecting the lives of people. People who are living outside the State are suffering as also the people who are inside (in the Valley)”. With these observation the court asked AG to think seriously about connectivity and take decision immediately in this regard.
With regard to use of shotgun or pump action gun (pellets) by the security forces on mob, Court observed that it is not used by trained people. “Who use this lethal weapon? It should have been used by trained people”, court observed, adding “Maximum restraint should be adopted as it concerns human life. Circumstances can change”, court further observed to AG.
Court while reserving its orders took serious note of use of shotgun on sensitive and delicate parts like eyes. Court during proceeding of the case observed that people have anger but it does not mean they should be treated like this. Court sought response from Union counsel, Advocate Showkat Makroo with regard to use of shotguns by next date of hearing.
Court also sought information on injured persons who have been hit by shotgun firing during protests. Court has been informed that their treatment is going on in different Government hospitals and according to status report filed by the Health Department which indicates that eye balls of some of the injured patients have shrunk due to serious injury.
“Shrinkage of eye ball would mean that there would be vision disability”, court observed and questioned AG as to what steps has Government taken for saving this precious part of injured persons.
The AG) while reading the status report of the Health Department that the Department of Ophthalmology in SMHS hospital has received 183 pellet injury patients since July 9. He specifically denied that it is difficult to conduct all the urgent surgeries in the given time frame.
Court has also been informed that 130 patients need secondary intervention after 3 to 4 weeks which includes also retinal surgeries and the department of Ophthalmology has four operating eye theatres. “Since July non-emergent nature of the department has been stopped and department devotes full attention to treat these trauma patients which include pellet injuries also. So it is not true that hospital can conduct only 3-4 patients per day”, reads the report.
According to the report, the Health Department has already constituted a six member Committee of Experts in the field of Ophthalmology (retina surgery) and hospital administration who will evaluate the requirements, both equipment and human resources, and other logistic support, if required. The Committee has been directed to make detailed and comprehensive list of requirements and man power and other logistics of the department of Ophthalmology within the stipulated period of three days for taking further appropriate necessary action.
It has also been submitted that total number of patients admitted since July 9, 2016 till date is 185, out of which 148 patients have been operated (primary intervention done), four patients have been referred to AIIMS New Delhi for special treatment.
Court expressed its dissatisfaction over non-functioning of banks in Kashmir. In this regard one of the officials of State Bank of India who was present in the court informed the court that out of its 36 six branches only 5 could have been made functional as no branch of SBI is functional in Srinagar city.
Jammu and Kashmir Bank has informed the court that they are facing lot of difficulties due to no internet access. Court has been informed that no Punjab National Bank is functional even in security zones.
Court observed: “If there is no restriction or curfew in any area then make your bank branches functional and don’t impose restrictions on yourself as it is your duty to make them functional.”
Besides these issues court has been apprised about the distribution of ration and other essential commodities like LPG etc.
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