The Chhattisgarh High Court on Monday issued directions to the state government to setup COVID-19 testing facilities in the state and to search for the people attended the Nizamuddin markaz.
Acting upon a PIL, the division bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra & Justice Goutam Bhaduri observed that as per the Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority there are large number of positive cases at Katghora and that non-availability of testing facility at Bilaspur which is very close to Katghora would cause immense threat of contamination for the people residing at Bilaspur, Korba, Janjgir, Raigarh, Ambikapur, and places nearby such districts.
The bench directed the State Government take steps for opening of testing facility of COVID -19 viruses at Bilaspur within three days and thereafter, the Central Government shall take steps to accord necessary sanction within next three days.
Earlier the CG High Court has directed the State Government to trace out such persons who are present in the State of Chhattisgarh after having participated in the Tablighi Jamaat Congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz. Pursuant to this order the Advocate General had filed a status report which was disputed by the Amicus Curie. The bench observed that State Government needs to file better detailed affidavit giving district-wise figure of presence of persons who have attended the Tablighi Jamaat Congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz and the persons who came into contact with such attendees.
The Court also directed the State Government to continue their search operations for finding out the persons who attended the Tablighi Jamaat Congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz or any other person who came into contact with such attendees and are present in the State of Chhattisgarh as any such attendee or contactee may be a potential carrier of COVID-19 virus. The bench observed that the direction is necessary because since last date of hearing a large number of positive cases have been detected in Katghora, District Korba and the spread of COVID-19 virus in that area has mainly happened on account of chain-reaction emanated from one person who attended the congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz.
The Court has listed the case for further hearing on 17th of April, 2020 and directed that on the said date, the State Government shall file affidavit of senior officer of the Health Department and that of the Director General of Police giving district-wise details of persons who attended the Tablighi Jamaat Congregation or who came into contact with such attendees.
-India Legal Bureau