LHC criticises Punjab govt for not providing report on dengue virus

LHC criticises Punjab govt for not providing report on dengue virus

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District Coordination Officer (DCO) and Secretary Health are summoned in next hearing.

14 September,2011 01:19 pm

When the Chief Justice Lahore High Court resumed the hearing on Wednesday, the Punjab government’s lawyer requested the court to grant more time for submission of the report regarding dengue virus. The CJ, in his remarks, said that people were dying and you were asking for more time.The court ordered the Punjab govt. to provide report regarding dengue epidemic and standard of the anti-mosquito spray in the court. Chief Justice adjourned the hearing till September 16.Chief Justice Lahore High Court (LHC) Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry, had sought a report and parawise comments from Punjab health secretary and Lahore district co-ordination officer (DCO) on a petition pertaining to failure of the Punjab government and City District Government Lahore (CDGL) to control dengue and to provide free-of-charge, necessary medical treatment to dengue patients.Earlier, the CJ directed the respondents to file their replies till September 14. A lawyer, Noshab A Khan, on Monday, filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) against Punjab government’s failure to combat dengue fever and to provide free-of-charge, necessary medical treatment to dengue patients. He requested to take to task the Punjab government and Health Department officials who were slow in recognising the magnitude of the threat and failed to gauge the scale of the outbreak. He also prayed that the respondents be summoned in the court to explain their negligence in the greatest interest of justice, equity and fair play. He also said that health secretary be ordered to ensure free medical facilities to dengue patients and action be taken against responsible authorities for showing criminal negligence in saving lives of citizens.