Manipur HC Orders Constitution of Expert Committees to Advise Govt on Covid-19 Action Plan; Dissemination of Information on Spending Capacity, Prevention Measures, etc.

The Manipur High Court on Thursday directed the State Government to constitute a “Committee of Experts” that may advise the government as to the course of action that may be adopted to prevent the spread of Covid-19, after holding regular deliberations with all the stakeholders. A division bench comprised by Justice Lanusungkum Jamir and Justice Kh. Nobin Singh has ordered that the Committee should be constituted within a week, “which shall collect all the relevant data, discuss with the stakeholders including CSOs, farmers, persons who are unable to earn anything because of the lockdown etc., analyse the detailed aspects and keep on submitting reports to the State Government from time to time so that the same can be placed before the High Level Consultative Committee for consideration and to take appropriate decisions accordingly.” The direction was passed in a PIL, highlighting the plight of migrants/returnees due to inaction on part of the State Government in establishing adequate number of quarantine centres, setting up adequate testing facilities and providing basic amenities at the existing quarantine centres. While disposing of the PIL, the bench iterated that in order to tackle the Covid-19 crisis, the Government needs to make two plans— one, short term plan and two, long term plan.