Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 18: The State High Court today expressed concern over failure of Government to provide essential commodities to people in curfew bound Kashmir and directed it to ensure that ration is provided to people.
The division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice M H Attar issued these directions after going through status report filed by Director Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) Department.
Court said that the report is not convincing as out of 400 outlets, only 50 are functional in Srinagar. “In so far as the status report filed by the Director, CA&PD, is concerned, the same is not at all convincing. The Advocate General submitted that number of sale outlets in Srinagar district is more than 400, However, the statement filed today revealed functioning of sale outlets numbering 50”, the order reads.
The court said that no steps have been taken by the Government to open sales outlets in other parts of Kashmir. “Thus, around 12% of the sale outlets alone are open and distribution is made. In so far as other districts are concerned in the Valley, no steps are mentioned except issuing a circular”, reads the order.
“The Advocate General after going through the reply filed by the petitioner submits that Director will look into the entire issue and take up the matter with District Officers to ensure distribution of ration items to the public”, reads the court order.
Court directed the authorities to prevent black marketing and provide ration to the people on credit. “As the Valley is in turmoil for the past about 11 days, availability of essential commodities must be ensured to the public throughout the Valley. It is also ordered that no card holder be denied ration items for not remitting prices of the items and the authorities have to give the items on credit basis so that the amount can be collected from the card holders during the normal period. It is for the Authority to find out the ways and means to ensure supply of essential items and prevent black marketing and status report be filed regarding the steps taken by the day after tomorrow”, reads the court order.
Court also directed the Director, SKIMS, to ensure that the cancer patients who are unable to reach the hospital are delivered medicine. “The Director, SKIMS, is therefore, directed to verify how many patients are registered for cancer treatment with the SKIMS and to ensure supply of medicine to such patients who are unable to reach to the SKIMS for getting the medicine are provided medicines for a month through the local health department officers”, the order reads.
Court said that the status report filed by Director, SKIMS does not mention the number of cancer patients registered with the SKIMS. “In so far as statement made by the Director, SKIMS, regarding the treatment given to the cancer patients, it is not mentioned how many persons are registered with the hospital and getting treatment and whether all the patients who are taking medicine from the hospital have been provided the medicine”, reads the order.
Court said that they expect that the Health Department will provide free medical treatment to the patients. “From the above reports of the Director, SKIMS, as well as Principal, Government Medical College, Srinagar, we are able to see that adequate care is taken to the patients who sustained injuries due to the turmoil. It is expected that Health Department and Associated Hospitals will ensure free medical treatment to the patients and all their needs as assured in the status report”, reads the order.
The court was hearing the petition filed by MM Shuja on the distribution of ration and providing medical treatment to the people who have been injured in the violence in Kashmir that has left 40 dead and over 3400 injured.
Follow our WhatsApp channel