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| HC directs authorities to give ration to Valleyites on credit basis | | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, July 18: A high court division bench of Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar, after going through the CAPD's status report and petitioner's reply to it, today said no card holder be denied ration for not remitting the price of items, directing the authorities concerned to give them these items on credit basis.
The amount could be collected from the card holders during the normal period, the bench said in a PIL, highlighting the plight of Valleyites in view of the non-supply of essential commodities due to imposition of curfew in Kashmir and shortage of medicines and life saving drugs. "It is for the authorities to find out the ways and means to ensure supply of essential items and prevent black marketing," the bench said. The petitioner filed his reply to the status report wherein he stated that till July 16 last, neither any ration store had opened nor any other alternate arrangement was in place in the specified areas falling in the districts of Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian and with regard to other districts the information was being collected. It was stated that due to non-supply of essential commodities, black marketeers were selling essential items, particularly sugar, at a higher price ranging from Rs 50 to 60 per kg against the government price of Rs 13.5 per kg. No home delivery of LPG was being made nor any LPG outlet was open in some districts and even in ATMs, which were properly guarded by security staff, no cash was available except in a few ATMs of the high court, outside SMHS Hospital, Srinagar. "The garbage clearance is also not made by Srinagar Municipal Corporation which may cause serious threat of spreading of diseases," the petitioner said.
In his status report, the CAPD director stated that wherever the storekeepers faced minor hiccups, the matter was taken up with the district administration and necessary instructions were issued to the concerned SHOs of Srinagar district to facilitate the department for smooth sale of ration at the depots. The field agencies had been directed to involve the mohalla and masjid committees as well for the distribution of ration items.
Srinagar GMC principal also filed the status report, mentioning the steps taken for giving treatment to the injured, providing free medicines and subsidised food to them and their attendants as also the transport facility made available to the employees of GMCH and associated hospitals to take care of the patients. The status report also stated that the cost of the medicines and implants, which were made available to the injured in Bone and Joint Hospital, Barzulla, was about Rs 24 lakh. The SKIMS director also filed a status report, stating therein that the institute took various steps to help the needy by providing them free drugs.
The bench said that from reports of SKIMS director and GMC principal, "we are able to see that adequate care is taken to the patients who sustained injuries due to the turmoil. It is expected that the health department and associated hospitals will ensure free medical treatment of the injured as assured in the status report".
The bench observed that in the SKIMS director's statement regarding the treatment given to the cancer patients, it was not mentioned how many persons registered with the hospital had been getting treatment. The SKIMS director was ordered to verify the number of patients registered for cancer treatment with SKIMS and ensure supply of medicines to such patients who were unable to reach the institute for a month through local health department officers.
The bench observed that the CAPD director's status report was not at all convincing as the advocate general submitted that number of sale outlets in Srinagar district was more than 400, but the statement filed today revealed that the functional outlets were 50. Thus, around 12 pc of the sale outlets were open. In so far as other districts are concerned in the Valley, no steps were mentioned except the issuance of a circular. "As the valley is in turmoil for the past about 11 days, availability of essential commodities must be ensured to public. It is ordered that no card holder be denied ration items for not remitting their price and the authorities have to give them the items on credit basis so that the amount can be collected from them during the normal period. It is for the authorities to find out the ways and means to ensure supply of essential items and prevent black marketing," the bench directed. (JNF) |
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