This story is from March 29, 2020

‘Virtual curfew’ in Port Blair: Kolkata HC appoints panel

‘Virtual curfew’ in Port Blair: Kolkata HC appoints panel
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KOCHI: High court of Kolkata on Saturday suo motu constituted a monitoring committee headed by the district judge to ensure access to justice for all and on the ground realities based on an email highlighting violation of fundamental rights by the Andaman and Nicobar administration in the name of Covid-19 lockdown.
The monitoring committee, with judicial secretary, superintendent of police, South Andamans and president of bar association of Port Blair as other members, has been directed to make assessment of all relevant factors including supply of essential commodities, medicine and fuel for residents of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The directives were issued based on an email and WhatsApp message by an advocate to the chief justice of Kolkata high court.
The bench also directed district judge to notify the public that in urgent situation they can file petitions before the registry with soft copies and email them to Kolkata registry to be placed before the chief justice. Similar directive was also issued to judicial secretary, who is the member secretary of state legal services authority, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The letter by the advocate said the lockdown goes far beyond what was mandated by the Union government and that it is not possible to step out of the house for any reason whatsoever. "Despite three days having passed, there is still no clear system in place for provision of essential food supplies to all persons."
A government official said they have been receiving distress calls from people because of lack of food and medicine. "Some of them even threatened suicide. There are mothers who can’t get milk substitutes for babies. The situation is quite bad," said the official.
A former ward councilor said they have now started to break the guidelines and start opening shops. "We are getting hundreds of calls from people because they can't access provisions and even water," he said. The administration had devised a system for home delivery but it's not working. "No one can get on the road because the police would beat them up," he said. It's almost like a curfew and no shops are allowed to open. Six positive cases of Covid-19 have been reported from the UT.
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