New Delhi: The Supreme Court yesterday said the government should ensure that the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir get food, fuel, drinking water and medicines, and that their damaged houses are restored as it concerned their right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Noting the steps taken by the government for relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected people, the court said: “We believe whatever has been stated therein must have been done or are being done. The question is whether the steps that have been taken or are being undertaken for relief and rehabilitation are adequate to meet the requirements of the affected people.”
The bench of Chief Justice R M Lodha, Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman said this as counsel Colin Gonsalves told the court that in six districts — Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag, Budgam, Baramulla and Srinagar — there was no supply of medicines or there was acute shortage of medical supplies and doctors.
In many places, Gonsalves said, doctors were not available at all.
The waste management system has also become dysfunctional in most of the districts, he said.
The court recorded a statement by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that the union health secretary would get in touch with the heath secretaries in the states and union territories for making available doctors, medical equipment and medicines to treat the flood-affected people.
The court said lack of sanitation/hygiene may be an invitation to epidemics and deserves to be tackled urgently. The bench said that now since water has receded substantially and most of the areas are not inundated in Srinagar, the state government may also take steps for ensuring adequate supply of fuel for cooking. IANS
