HC PUTS PUNJAB, HARYANA AND CHANDIGARH ON NOTICE

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday put governments of Punjab and Haryana and the Chandigarh administration on notice on a suo motu petition initiated on spread of dengue and deaths due to the vector-borne disease.

The HC took note of news reports including some carried in Hindustan Times, and observed that it appeared health departments of respective states and UT are not at all equipped to tackle the disease. The responses have been sought by November 2.

“The weakest and lowest sections of the society are more vulnerable. The state government are not taking adequate steps to prevent this epidemic at this stage,” it said. The HC observed that there was gross dereliction of duty on the part of authorities concerned, which are not taking steps for prevention and control of the dengue epidemic at the appropriate time.

“The authorities are in a total state of unpreparedness to tackle or manage the situation causing great inconvenience to the public,” justice Amit Rawal, who had taken note had said stressing that there is need to establish a dengue control programme with regular budgetary provisions.

“The court intends to take stern action against those who are found failing in discharging their statutory duties and public law obligations,” justice Rawal had stated.