Srinagar: The J&K High Court on Wednesday said that it was “deeply concerned” about the manner in which the public could be required to conduct itself after reduction of the restrictions post-lockdown.
“It is absolutely imperative that the public is educated about the same as well in advance,” a division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and justice Rajnesh Oswal while hearing Public Interest Litigations including one on its own motion.
“Institutions and establishments including, commercial and industrial establishments, need to know as to the manner they would be permitted to work after the reduction/removal of the lockdown restrictions,” the court said, adding, “It would appear that the authorities have not even begun to apply their minds to these issues.”
It rejected the report “purporting” to be on the issue of the “removal of lockdown – desirable public response – provision of information”.
Earlier, Amit Gupta, additional advocate general on behalf of Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner and Health & Medical Education Department submitted a status report.
“This report still does not deal with the issue on which the authorities were required to apply their mind,” the court said, observing that it only details the steps already taken.
“It appears that the issue of what would be the desirable public response post removal of the lockdown has not been examined,” the court added.
“We had directed the Director Information to place before us the strategy with regard to dissemination of the information on this issue. No report is forthcoming from the Director Information,” the court said Ultimately, the court directed the Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Director Information and the Member Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir State Legal Services Authority to have a meeting within one week and formalize an action plan on these issue “which shall be placed before us positively before the next date of hearing.”
Meanwhile, Vishal Sharma, Assistant Solicitor General of India, said that he has received a letter dated May 12 from Ashok Kumar Paul, Under Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, which he could not place on record. He prayed for short adjournment to do so and the court allowed his prayer. The matter pertains to Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill.
Meanwhile Dr. Nissar-ulHassan, President Doctors’ Association Kashmir, submitted report as regards views on violence against healthcare worker.
Meanwhile, in view of a report submitted by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, the court observed that it would appear that the Government was sensitive to the welfare and needs of stranded migrants, contract labourers and visitors etc. “They shall continue to render all assistance to these persons and take all necessary steps as may be required.”
