A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha, along with Justices Kurien Joseph and Rohinton Nariman said in an order on Friday that the floods in Jammu and Kashmir called for a national response.
“After all, lives of people who are affected by such disaster have to be saved… It goes without saying that supply of food, drinking water, medicines, fuel and other essential supplies deserve top-most priority and the restoration of communication and provision for health-care facilities,” the Bench observed.
Responding to the plea, Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi submitted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was himself in-charge of a committee overseeing the rescue and relief operations. The Chief of Army Staff was also monitoring the situation.
“Please let the Army do what it is doing. Helipads are submerged in water. Airlifting is disturbed by stone-pelting. The government is aware,” Mr. Rohatgi responded.
The court urged Mr. Rohatgi to take steps to provide facilities for the State High Court and Executive to start functioning. It said this would symbolise the spirit of resurgence in the State.
The Bench, responding to petitioners Colin Gonsalves and Bhim Singh, said though the Army was doing “commendable” work, the “current rescue operations were too inadequate for such a huge disaster.”
In his plea, senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves said a “national disaster” of this magnitude should have other States and Union Territories pitching in.
