Odisha govt to supply Covid-19 protective kits to district judges

BHUBANESWAR: The state government has asked the health department to supply protective kits to district judges and their staff members, who are being exposed to the Covid-19 virus owing to their frequent visits to jails for monitoring of the living standard of inmates.
The government’s decision is imperative as a number of under trial prisoners (UTPs) in different jails, including the hotspot Ganjam district have already tested positive for novel coronavirus. Several employees of some jails, including the ones in Ganjam and Cuttack were home quarantined after coming in contact with Covid-19 positive patients.
The Orissa high court last week wrote to the chief secretary Asit Tripathy and asked him to immediately provide protective kits, including face masks, hand sanitizers, gloves, soaps, isolation gowns and surgical suits to the district judges, judicial officers and their staff. “We received the letter from the high court and directed the health department to fulfil the requirements for the protection of officers involved in district judiciary,” an officer from the chief secretary’s office said.
Additional chief secretary (health) Pradipta Mohapatra said sanitizers and triple layer masks among others were being provided from Odisha state medical corporation limited to the Orissa high court. "Instructions are being issued to all the child district medical officers to provide such items from their stocks to the district judges," Mohapatra said.
Sources said the state has around 176 court complexes, 682 judicial officers and 6,072 court staff members. Besides, the government has asked district administration to facilitate regular sanitisation of premises of district and sub-ordinate courts. “We have asked the district collectors to facilitate installation of wash basins at the entry and exit points of all courts. We have also requested courts to restrict unnecessary movement of visitors on the premises,” the officer said.
The Puri court and several offices of the district administration (collectorate) in the town were closed for a few days last month after a lawyer and three accused persons tested positive for Covid-19 virus.
Currently, the subordinate courts across the state have been functioning in a restricted manner whereas the Orissa high court in Cuttack has been conducting virtual hearings through video conference in the middle of Covid-19 pandemic. The Orissa high court on Wednesday extended validity of any court’s interim protection, anticipatory bail and parole till August 31. The high court was of the view that the litigants should not suffer on account of their inability to approach the courts due to the unprecedented crisis caused by Covid-19 outbreak.