Jammu, Mar 4:
Jammu and Kashmir High Court today sought the Centre’s response on a plea filed by a Budgam resident regarding the evacuation of J&K students and other persons from coronavirus hit Iran. The High Court directed the administrations of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to ensure creation of proper isolation and quarantine facilities besides testing laboratories for prevention of the novel coronavirus disease. The Coram comprising Chief Justice Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal made Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Secretary Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation, Chief Secretaries and Commissioner Secretaries of Health and Medical Education Departments of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh respectively as party respondents. According to the directions, the Ministries of External Affairs, Health and Civil Aviation are required through the Indian Embassy in
JK students
Tehran, Iran and their offices, to ensure availability of the required materials including masks, medication and essential commodities including food etc. to all Indians especially the students, who are stated to be stranded there. They will further identify the protocol to be followed, examine the mode to forthwith implement the same and take steps for evacuation of the Indian students stranded in Iran. The High Court directed the administrations of J&K and Ladakh to identify and ensure creation of proper facilities for isolation and quarantine in the Government and private sector, testing laboratories as well as availability of the health care and medication for prevention of the COVID 19 disease and treatment of the persons infected/carrying the infection. They were further directed to take immediate steps for acquisition of and to ensure availability in sufficient numbers and quantity of N-95 (or any other recommended) masks, for the public and separation kits for all medical personnel and staff.
The High Court directed the respondents to file status report on or before March 12, 2020 which has been listed as the next date of hearing.
The Government today appointed various officers to ramp up efforts for prevention and control of novel coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the order issued by the GAD, Bhupinder Kumar, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), J&K, shall be the overall in-charge of the coronavirus control efforts at the Union Territory level who shall work under the supervision of Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education Department, J&K.
The order also states that Dr. Shafqat Khan (designated Nodal Officer) shall work under the supervision of overall in-charge coronavirus control efforts (Mission Director, NHM).
Further at the Divisional Level, respective Divisional Commissioners shall be the overall in-charge of coronavirus control efforts and shall be assisted by the respective Directors of Health Services.
At the District Level, Deputy Commissioners shall be the in-charge of coronavirus control efforts to be assisted by the respective Chief Medical Officers.
The order says that the Apex Level/Divisional Level/District Level Officers shall ensure detection at the Airports/Railway Stations and other entry points.
They shall also ensure creation of adequate quarantine, isolation and other requisite facilities besides undertaking adequate measures for surveillance of home quarantined persons.
The nominated officers shall also take all other measures required for effective control of coronavirus; the order adds.
