Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 20: Government of J&K and Ladakh Union Territories today apprised High Court about measures that have been taken to prevent spread of COVID-19 in the region.
The Government apart from issuing the Epidemic Disease COVID-19 regulations, 2020 also issued Advisory to the concerned District Magistrates of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to avoid large gatherings.
In this District Magistrate Jammu vide Order No. DCJ/PS/2019-20/1002-1011 dated 15.03.2020 amongst other directions also passed directions not to hold any social, religious or ritualistic events at any public/ community/religious place involving a gathering of more than 4 people, till 31st March, 2020, in District Jammu.
Likewise District Magistrate Srinagar vide Order No.DCS/PS/ 19/1089 dated 17.03.2020 amongst other directions also directed that no community hall, Government or Private, shall offer any booking, henceforth, for any public function, social or religious.
Under Section 144 of Cr.P.C restrictions have been imposed in various Districts by the concerned District Magistrates. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has suspended yatra to the Holy Shrine till March 31st, 2020. On similar lines, all religious leaders are being advised to suspend all religious gatherings at least till March 31, 2020.
The division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal has been informed by the Advocate General that all Inter State Buses coming to or going from Jammu and Kashmir shall stand suspended till March 31st, 2020.
He submitted that an appeal is being issued to all foreign tourists not to visit Jammu and Kashmir. However, any foreign tourist visiting shall be quarantined. “100% quarantine shall be made for all visitors from the Union Territory of Ladakh. It has also been decided to introduce and operationalized 100% checking of passengers at Banihal”, reads the report of Government.
“Deputy Commissioners have been designated as Incharge of Coronavirus control at District Level. Union Territory Control Room has formally been set up in National Heath Mission Office, Jammu. Medical Control Rooms have been set up both in Srinagar as well as Jammu.”
All the Deputy Commissioners have been directed to involve urban local bodies in fumigation of crowded places, offices and hospitals. All the HODs of Health & Medical Education Department and Director, SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar vide communication No. PS/FC/HME/2020/12 dated 17.03.2020 have been directed to ensure that all the arrangements are immediately made to ensure that the persons recommended for quarantine be stamped with indelible ink Stamp as per format enclosed and date of completion of quarantine mentioned with the help of separate stomp on the dorsum of right hand of the person to be quarantined.
Three labs are functional in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for testing and so far 113 tests have been conducted. Isolation beds have been identified Quarantine facilities -2090 (Hospital 1181 and Non-Hospital 900) have been identified.
Court after having these steps and measures taken, said the Government is sensitive to the seriousness and the urgency of the matter and is addressing the issue from every aspect possible.
Advocate General submitted that Director General (Prisons) has also issued Standard Operating Procedures regarding jails. “Let the same be brought on record with the status report on or before the next date of hearing”, Court directed
Appearing for the Union Territory of Ladakh, Vishal Sharma, ASGI submitted that in view of the extremely critical position being faced in the Ladakh, on account of pre-occupation with the measures that are required to be taken, it was not possible to file the status report on behalf of the Union Territory of Ladakh. Court directed him to place the status report in terms of orders before court positively before the next date of hearing.
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