The Allahabad High Court today directed the High Court authorities to ensure all steps necessary to guard against the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) within the High Court campus.
The Court ordered,
The Bench of Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Ramesh Sinha took up a PIL filed by practicing Advocate, Shashank Shri Tripathi, on the issue on Sunday.
Tripathi had urged the High Court to issue directions for the constitution of a High Level Precautionary Committee of experts for the purpose of preventing the spread of Coronavirus in the High Court.
The High Court was told today that the the Registrar (Protocol) of the High Court had already corresponded with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Prayagraj on the issue yesterday.
In his response, the CMO had also conveyed that a team has already been sent to the High Court premises for anti-mosquito spray and fogging. Further, it was informed that certain teams have been constituted for rapid response to the expansion of COVID-19, if any.
The Bench today noted that these steps do not appear to be quite effective. All the same, it was noted that the Uttar Pradesh government has issued certain advisories and taken steps to check on the spread of the Coronavirus. The High Court opined today that these steps need to be complied with at the earliest. A complete report on the steps taken is also to be intimated to the High Court on the next date of hearing.
Last week, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court also issued a series of directions with a view to controlling the spread of Novel Coronavirus in the area.
[Read the Allahabad HC order passed today]
