The High court of Manipur division bench comprising justice Lanusungkum Jamir and justice Kh Nobin on Tuesday directed the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) to investigate whether the state quarantine centres are following the guidelines of WHO and National Centre for Disease Control.
The division bench further directed MHRC to submit the investigation report within fifteen days and also to file an affidavit from state respondents within 10 days.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the court, seeking a direction to set up quarantine centres in all districts of Manipur for accommodate of the returnees from other states, and ensure that guidelines for quarantine centres issued by WHO and National Centre for Disease Control are strictly followed.
The petitioner namely J Hilson Angam on the PIL stated that when thousands of stranded people are brought back to the states, it is important to ensure that adequate numbers of quarantine centres are in placed to accommodate them.
It is also critical that appropriate measures as per safety guidelines are considered and implemented to ensure a COVID-19 free environment in the state, it said.
Unfortunately, the state is underprepared to accommodate all the returnees and provide the recommended guidelines. Several reports have been published about the complaints and protests from different corners of the states against the lack of adequate quarantine centres and awful condition of the quarantine facilities, the PIL mentioned.
