Court directs State to file report on mitigation steps

When a plea moved by advocate AP Suryaprakasam seeking to constitute an expert committee to take appropriate steps to prevent the spread of Covid-19 infection came up before the first bench comprising Chief Justice AP Sahi and Justice Subramonium Prasad, the court said, “Let an appropriate affidavit be filed informing the court on the preventive steps taken against the spread of viral diseases, including dengue.”

Suryaprakasam’s original plea sought the court to direct the State government to appoint an expert committee comprising health and other experts in the field of public safety and communicable diseases to ascertain the efficacy and adequacy of the measures taken by the authorities in tackling dengue menace in Tamil Nadu.

However, when the plea came up for hearing on Tuesday, the petitioner filed an additional affidavit in which he submitted that though Covid-19 infection had not been detected in Tamil Nadu, appropriate preventive measures and awareness should be created among the public.

Preventive measures should be immediately taken particularly for children who have less immunity to such viruses. The government should rope in experts and NGOs to spread awareness among public, the petitioner added while seeking the creation of an expert committee headed by the Chief Secretary and comprising secretaries of Health, Transport and Civil Supplies.

Recording the submissions, the plea has been posted to February 24, when the authorities are expected to file the report.