DB directs authorities formalize action plan on public response post on removal of lockdown

14/05/2020

Jammu, MAY 13: A Division Bench of J&K High Court Comprising Chief Justice and Justice Rajnesh Oswal today directed 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 from today and formalize an action plan on desirable public response post on removal of the lockdown, which shall be placed before us positively before the next date of hearing. When the PIL came-up for hearing, Division Bench observed that status report dated 8th May 2020 has been filed by AAG Amit Gupta, AAG on behalf of Mr. Atal Dulloo, Financial Commis sioner and Health & Medical Education Department. Division Bench observed that this report still does not deal with the issue on which the authorities were required to apply their mind. The report 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.DB further observed that this court is deeply concerned about the manner in which the public could be required to conduct itself after reduction of the restrictions post-lockdown and it is absolutely imperative that the public is educated about the same as well in advance. 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. It would appear that the authorities have not even begun to apply their minds to these issues.
The report purporting to be on the issue of the "Removal of lockdown - desirable public response - provision of information " is rejected, DB observed and 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. DB further directed that 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 from today and formalize an action plan on the above issue, which shall be placed before us positively before the next date of hearing. JNF

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