The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Wednesday asked the state government what action has it taken to help or rehabilitate children orphaned or who have lost a parent due to Covid-19.
The bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua has heard a bunch of petitions including a PIL filed alleging inadequate facilities and infrastructure in the state to deal with the pandemic.
On Wednesday, the Court was informed that labour is likely to be infused into the State of Himachal Pradesh due to the impending harvesting season of apples. The season has partly started and will go on till October-November. Therefore, the concern was raised before the Court that the apple plucking season may act as a catalyst for further spread of Covid-19.
To this effect, the Senior Additional Advocate General submitted that additional efforts and inputs would be put in those districts, wherein the harvesting of apples would take place.
He also assured the Court that additional care would be taken in order to ensure that the labour that enters Himachal Pradesh for the said purpose is vaccinated with the available resources of the State.
He has further informed the Court that in pursuance of the decision taken by the State Government, all tourists would be allowed to enter the State of Himachal Pradesh only either if they have a negative RT PCR test report or have a certificate evidencing one/two shot(s) of the vaccine they have taken. If not, they will not be permitted to enter the State of Himachal Pradesh , Senior Additional Advocate General added.
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The Division Bench while considering the submission said that more stringent measures would be taken by the State in the coming days keeping in mind the prevailing situation and further efforts to be made by the State would be brought to the notice of the Court on the next date.
“Additional Advocate General is also requested to place on record the material with regard to the children that have been orphaned or who have lost one parent due to Covid-19 and further as to what action the State has taken in order to help or rehabilitate such children,” the order reads.
The Court has fixed the matter on August 11 for further hearing.