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Kohima, April 28 (EMN): The Gauhati High Court, Kohima bench on Tuesday asked the government of Nagaland to make at least two Covid-19 testing labs functional in the state within 10 days.
It directed the state government to “make every effort to establish other labs at strategic places in the state to facilitate free testing in the near future”.
The court issued the directives in response to a public interest litigation filed by Kikrukhonuo, resident of Midland colony in Kohima, against the state government and three others represented by the chief secretary, the principal and secretary for Health and Family Welfare, the principal director for Health and Family Welfare; and Union of India represented by the secretary for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The court had asked the state government to provide sufficient number of personal protection equipment, which are of the standard quality prescribed by the appropriate authority to all persons involved in the treatment of Covid-19 patients and looking after of persons in quarantine centres.
“Make all efforts to make ICU facilities at all places identified for treatment of Covid-19 infected persons and also increase the number of ventilators so as to facilitate treatment in times of need,” the court said.
In addition, the court directed the government to make ambulances available to Covid-19 patients at the earliest, if not available already, and to provide transportation facilities to all persons who are in the line of duty, “in view of the constraints and restraints imposed both by the government and the public”.
“See to it that under no circumstance, or circumstances, there should be any shortage of trained personnel for treatment of the Covid-19 patients and those who are quarantined,” it stated.
Further, the court asked the state government to gear up and make sure that two main hospitals, which have been identified for treatment of Covid-19 patients i.e., one at Kohima and one at Dimapur, are fully equipped and ready for functioning to meet the challenge or challenges posed by the Covid-19 within a period of two weeks.
According to the petitioner’s advocate Neiteo Koza, “the PIL was filed to assist the state of Nagaland in the present crisis by identifying traditional gap areas that have either been denied, omitted or overlooked by the respondents to ensure that the people of Nagaland get equitable chance at survival rate through adequate healthcare facilities while combating the pandemic”.
The order was passed by Justice Songkhupchung Serto and Justice S Hukato Swu.
“This is a PIL through which certain concerns regarding the actions taken already taken, and which are yet to be taken, by the state government regarding the COid-19 are sought to be brought to the notice of this court for issuing necessary direction or directions,” observed the court.
It added that regarding the other concerns raised by the petitioner in the writ petition, the respondents are to look into them and come with their response through an affidavit on the returnable date.
“We also direct the state respondents to file their affidavit showing their level of preparedness and also a statement showing the materials already supplied for the personnel who are on line of duty,” the court directed.
The court also added that after having heard both the counsels ‘we are of the view that at this stage, it would be sufficient if notice is issued to the respondents and limited directions are issued’.
Accordingly, registry is directed to issue notice to the respondents making the same returnable within ten days, it added.