The stand of ‘Excelsior’ on the peculiar condition of village Paralkot in Poonch about the plight of the people being deaf and dumb to the tune of 80% of its population is vindicated as the Division Bench of the State High Court has treated the news item published on November 29 as Public Interest Litigation. The Bench comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Tashi Rabstan has observed that the affected village was stated to be inhabited by 300 odd souls and falling in Sanjwan area of Mandi sub Division, no medical team had ever visited the area for affording treatment to the effected people.
While going through the report published by this paper, the Bench further observed that no survey had been conducted or reasons for the problem ascertained. Equally, it was observed that no teaching staff of special line and expertise had ever been deputed there to teach the deaf and the dumb children. The DB, as such, has directed the Commissioner / Secretary to Government Health and Medical Education Department, Secretary School Education, Deputy Commissioner Poonch and other state authorities to undertake physical inspection of the village within one week. Even District Judge, Poonch Chairman, District Legal Services Authority etc have been directed to submit a report and suggest measures to ameliorate the difficulties of the residents of the village.
This puts at rest the superstitions of some evil eyes or some divine curse having haunted the village for long as a result of most of the residents there being deaf and dumb. Scientific investigations and treatments were definitely going to blast such myths which have prevented these suffering villagers from getting relief and riddance from the problem.