HC worried over reports of Ranchi Covid 'epicentre' residents moving to other places

Ranchi, Apr 15 () The Jharkhand High Court onWednesday expressed concern over media reports saying peopleliving in Covid-19 "epicentre" areas of Ranchi are moving toother localities despite the lockdown being in force.

Taking suo motu cognizance of the reports published intwo newspapers, the bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi saidthe lockdown is not being implemented in its true spirit anddirected the authorities to take action to check the spread ofcoronavirus infection from an "epicentre" to other areas ofthe city.

In spite of the guidelines issued by the Ministry ofHome Affairs to keep strict vigil in Covid-19 affected areas,it seems from the reports that "the State as well as theDistrict Administration are not handling the situation as ithas to be handled in order to restrict the spread of infectionin other parts of the city," the bench said in its order.

The court directed the register general to communicatethe order to the Jharkhand chief secretary, Ranchi deputycommissioner, Ranchi senior superintendent of police and theadvocate general of the state.

The judge also directed the registrar general to placethe matter before "the division bench which is in sessionrelating to the corona scourge".

So far, Jharkhand has reported 27 positive COVID-19cases and two deaths due to the disease. PVRNN NN