SOURCE: GK NEWS NETWORK
Bar association files plea before HC; prays quarantine for suspected, affected cases in Leh, Kargil be set up there only
D A Rashid
Bar Association Srinagar Wednesday moved J&K High Court with an application seeking direction upon the authorities for taking preventive measures against Covid-19 in J&K and Ladakh, even as pleading that “over 100 suspected coronavirus affected passengers” who have reportedly travelled to Srinagar from Ladakh may “risk” lives of others.
The plea by the J&K High Court Bar Association Srinagar through its Vice President Aijaz Bedar prayed that it be taken up with the Public Interest Litigations seeking directions for taking up measures to prevent spread of coronavirus in J&K and Ladakh.
Notably, two public Interest Litigations including the one which the court has initiated on its own motion are listed on March 20 before a division bench, which will hear the matter through video conference.
“It is apprehended that if these passengers are affected or require further medical investigation, they are likely to endanger all other persons who will come in contact with them which includes airline staff and security personnel,” the Bar’s plea reads.
While the lawyers’ body sought a direction to prevent entry of the residents of Leh to Kashmir both by air as well as road, it suggested that quarantine facilities need to be set up at Leh and Kargil itself, where treatment can be provided to the affected persons.
“It becomes necessary that the travel to the valley is subjected to serious medical checks at airports, bus stations, railway stations, etc,” the Bar said.
In order to verify the travel of “more than 100 passengers” to the valley today morning by Air India flight, the Bar said, immediate reports be obtained from the authorities concerned. “And based on such reports, directions as warranted in the facts and circumstances of the case may be issued.”
The Bar submitted that it will be highly appreciated if quarantine and other facilities are urgently set up at Leh and Kargil to make available medical facilities to the affected persons or suspects before they are certified to travel out of Leh and Kargil by any mode of transport. “Both Leh and Kargil have low level of density of population as compared to the Kashmir valley or Jammu”.
The Bar prayed that its application may be allowed and in the light of the submission made, further directions be passed in the interests of justice.
(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)