HC expresses concern over mushrooming JE deaths

Allahabad, Nov 6 (UNI) The Allahabad High Court has expressed deep concern over lack of effective and prompt measures to prevent the fatal Japanese Encephalitis/Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (JE/AES), in the state which killed several children in the last few decades.

Hearing a contempt petition filed by Rajesh Kumar Srivastava of Varanasi, Justice Sunil Ambvani recorded the statement of Uttar Pradesh chief secretary, who admitted that effective steps had not been taken either in prevention or to control the deadly disease and virtually no measures had been taken to tackle the carries (pigs), sanitation and rehabilitation in the area.

The HC said ''the citizens of the community have a fundamental right to life guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

The neglected parts of east UP, where children are dying of JE since last 79 years have the equal rights, which includes Right to Adequate Medical Care.'' It further observed ''it appears that the previous government was satisfied after distributing a few thousand of rupees to the dependents of those, who survived with disabilities. The present government has shown a little more concern, but failed to achieve anything on the ground level so far. A lot more needs to be done.'' The court directed Dr Ashok Nigam, add solicitor general of India to inform the Attorney General of India, the cabinet secretary and the secretary, medical and Health government of India, about their concern.

The Bench stated this year, 328 children have died in B R D Medical College, Gorakhpur alone.

UNI