Coronavirus: Jammu and Kashmir HC launches awareness campaign to sensitise people, control spread

The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir recently launched an awareness campaign to combat the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh..The Court has undertaken to display information pamphlets and posters at conspicuous places in the High Court compound as well as the District Courts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh..In addition, the Digital Display Boards have been installed in the court premises to convey precautions issued by World Health Organisation (WHO), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and by the Health and Medical Education Department J&K..Apart from initiating a cleanliness drive in the premises, an advisory has also been issued by the High Court impressing upon lawyers and litigants to avoid unnecessary overcrowding in the courts..To further their campaign, the bio metric attendance system for the staff has also been suspended until March 31, 2020..Dr Ravinder, an expert from the WHO was also invited to conduct sessions and further the awareness. In this regard, a training program was organized for the Court staff, lawyers and litigants on March 11, 2020..The sessions have also been uploaded on the official website of the High Court for public viewing and the Principal District & Sessions Judges have been directed to disseminate the information among the general public..The Jammu and Kashmir State Legal Services Authority (J&K SLSA) has also been organizing awareness camps since March 5, in collaboration with the Health Department..Over the course of six days, 96 awareness camps have been organized in all the Districts and over 7,700 persons have been made aware about the virus and the preventive measures to be adopted for stopping the spread of the virus..The J&K SLSA has utilized social media in its awareness campaign since mass gatherings are to be being avoided in the State..Last week, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had also issued a series of directions with a view to controlling the spread of the Novel Coronavirus in a suo motu PIL..The Delhi High Court had also recently issued public notice requesting advocates, general public and litigants to avoid unnecessary overcrowding in the court premises. The High Court has further asked the Centre and Delhi government to review their preparedness to deal with the Coronavirus outbreak..In a similar approach, the Karnataka High Court had also exempted its staff from marking biometric attendance until further orders.