SHILLONG, JULY 16: The Meghalaya High Court has sought a report into the measures taken to safeguard the health being of the personnel from the paramilitary forces stationed in the state.
Hearing a PIL via video conferencing on Thursday, the bench comprising of Justice HS Thangkhiew and Justice W Diengdoh has directed the ASG, A Paul to obtain instructions and to file an affidavit to apprise the Court as to the measures that have been put in place by the armed/para-military forces stationed in the state to safeguard the health and well-being of their personnel, especially the returnees into the state, from red zone areas of the country.
“Details of the available facilities, including the manner of testing shall also be made known by way of the affidavit. This direction is necessitated looking into the suffering and the situation faced by these jawans, who are being exposed to the virus by virtue of their service and the nature of their duties and postings,” the bench said in its order.
It said a majority of the patients in the current surge of Covid-19 patients in the State it is reported, belong to the BSF with a few from the other branches of the armed forces such as the Assam Rifles, apart from cases from the civil populace.
“Though, state government protocols are in place, not much is known as to the manner and method which is being adopted and followed by the armed/para-military forces in effectively combating the spread of the virus amongst the ranks,” the bench said.
It further stated that the rapid spread amongst the armed forces personnel who are on active duty in the service of the nation, especially in the lower ranks, in the units that are moved, or the personnel transferred and posted from place to place, is an area of “grave concern”.
The bench also observed that the spread of the virus is still alarming although submissions have been advanced by the state respondents that containment areas have been declared such as the BSF campus at Umpling, Shillong and directives issued to regulate such areas.
In compliance to the order passed on July 9, a status report was also filed today on the steps taken to combat the spread of COVID-19.
The report said that due to the surge of COVID-19 positive cases especially amongst the lower ranks of the armed forces, meetings have been held between the state respondents and the representatives of the armed/para-military forces stationed in Shillong, to work out the modalities and procedures that are to be adopted in ensuring that the returning personnel adhere to the protocols as prescribed.
It also stated that the representatives of the armed/para-military forces informed that the quarantine protocols as laid down by the respective Ministries are being followed; they do not have any testing facilities, and have requested the state government to assist them in this regard.
In the meeting held on June 24, some key decisions were taken with regard to the procedure of the entry of personnel, and concerns of the health authorities of the state were also noted.
In another meeting held on June 30 with the Border Security Force, the procedure being followed for BSF personnel who were tested Coved-19 positive were discussed.
It is noted that the BSF informed that there was no facility of isolation in single rooms, though other preventive measures were being taken, the report said
It was decided in the meeting that RT PCR test is to be conducted on all returnees, including tests to be conducted on the 5th and 7th day of individuals currently under quarantine apart from re-investigation of all primary and secondary contacts of the positive patients, it said.
Meanwhile, the next hearing on the matter will be held on July 28, for further orders.
By Our Reporter
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