Swine flu: HC asks Centre, JK govt to implement committee

Jammu and Kashmir High Court today directed the Centre and the state government to implement the recommendations of the committee set up by it for dealing with Swine Flu which has claimed 12 lives in the Valley.
A division bench comprising Justices Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Ali Mohammad Magray passed the orders after the expert committee set up by the court for making recommendations for dealing with epidemic-like diseases submitted its report.
The court is hearing three Public Interest Litigations filed after several Swine Flu deaths were reports in Kashmir.
"In the order dated March 9, the court provided that after the receipt of the report of the committee, the state government shall take immediate steps for implementing the same.

"The central government has also been directed to implement the recommendations of the committee," the bench said.
The court observed that right to live a healthy life is one of the essential components and facets of life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

"The state was duty bound to take all necessary measures, enabling its citizens to live a healthy life".
The court said any delay in implementing the recommendations of committee "will have catastrophic impact on the lives of the people of the state".
The bench took serious note of Director Health Services Kashmir Saleem-ur-Rehman not attending the meeting of the court-convened committee on the issue.

"The Director Health Services Kashmir to explain the cause which prevented him from attending the meeting .... He is further directed to participate in further meetings in person," the court said.