Jharkhand High Court on Saturday pulled up the state government for its inaction against Ranchi deputy commissioner Rai Mahimapat Ray for having flouted Union government travel rules during the ongoing lockdown.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan and Justice S.N. Prasad, who were hearing a PIL on the spread of the novel coronavirus in the state, observed that the government had tried to evade the questions of the court related to bus trips arranged by the administration during the lockdown.

The bench had earlier queried who had ordered eight buses, packed with 472 persons, to leave the capital during the lockdown on March 29.

It has been learnt that the Ranchi deputy commissioner had allowed the buses to go to Pakur, Sahebganj and Koderma on the recommendation of a state cabinet minister.

Advocate-general Rajiv Ranjan tried to defend the government and said that a show cause notice, seeking an explanation, had been served to the deputy commissioner.

The bench asked the advocate general why the chief secretary had not produced a copy of the showcause before the court.

The bench stressed the need to bring back migrant labourers of the state but also said that due protocols of screening and quarantine had to be followed.

Responding to the query of the judges, advocate-general Ranjan said relief camps were being set up in all places for labourers and their health checked during quarantine.

The Chief Justice remarked that the staff deputed at his residence in the capital did not have masks to wear, what was the common man of the city to do. The court urged the state to pull up its socks and ensure that masks and sanitisers were made available to all.

The court also asked the government what steps are being taken during Ramzan and how people were being sensitised to health threats in the wake of the pandemic. Ranjan informed the court that praying in religious places had been banned for the moment. Religious leaders have been involved to convince people to perform their prayers from home.

The court was also informed of the various schemes led by the state government to help those in distress. Ranjan said that ration from public distribution system outlets, Mukhyamantri Aahar Yojana, Daal Bhaat Yojana were being run by the government across the state. Clubs and voluntary organisations have also been roped in to serve food to the needy, he said.

Transgenders

Ration cards should have a column for the transgender community, the bench observed. Transgenders in the state cannot be neglected and their identity needs have to be recognised, the bench said. The case will again be heard on May 5.

Cash transfer

CM Hemant Soren on Friday began the process of transferring cash to bank accounts of the state’s migrant workers stranded across the country. On the first day, Rs 1,000 each was transferred to the accounts of 1,11,568 migrant workers through the Chief Minister’s Special Assistance Scheme mobile app. “Due to the novel coronavirus, migrant labourers of Jharkhand are stranded in various parts of the country. The state government has coordinated with the government officials of various states to provide ration and food grains for them,” Hemant said. PTI