Srinagar, June 4: Jammu and Kashmir High Court has sought details from the government as regards the manner in which Covid-19 samples are being collected, the time taken for transporting them to the laboratories and the schedule on which test reports are obtained.
Hearing a petition on its own motion Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajnesh Oswal took cognizance of a news report dated May 25 May which the court observed discloses a time gap between the taking of samples for COVID-19 infections and the receipt of the test reports.
“Some of the security personnel who were tested and found infected were deployed in discharge of public functions,” the court observed as per Global News Service, adding, “For instance, there is reference to a police constable of the 19th Battalion of the Indian Reserve Police who was on duty at Lakhanpur in Kathua District, a BSF constable and an Army jawan.”
Before proceeding in the matter, the court issued notice to the Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, UT of Jammu and Kashmir to place on record, in a tabulation, the manner in which samples for COVID-19 testing are being collected, the manner and the time taken for transporting them to the laboratories for testing and the schedule on which test reports are obtained.
“Let a report in this regard be placed before this court before the next date of hearing,” the court said and listed it for consideration on June 10.
“Inasmuch as Ms. Monika Kohli is assisting us in COVID-19 matters, we appoint her as Amicus Curiae in this matter as well,” the court added.
