Karnataka High Court Takes Suo Moto Cognizance Of Rising Dengue Cases In Bengaluru, Rural Areas

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday initiated a suo-motu case, taking note of the rising number of Dengue cases in Bengaluru and other districts of the state, especially rural areas.

A division bench of Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind said “We are taking Suo Motu cognizance of dengue spread in Bengaluru and the state, particularly in Rural areas. We have said that the Right to Health and Right to be Treated and Right to Live in a Healthy Environment is a fundamental right flowing from Article 21 of the Constitution of India.”

The court took note of the letter written by a citizen of Raichur, Vijaykumar HK, which was published in the Deccan Herald newspaper and other related news articles pointing to the several cases of dengue.

The bench said “Letters to the editor are the pulse of the society and considered as a barometer reflecting the true affairs of the society. The views expressed by common citizens by writing a letter to the editor always matter, truth and importance thereof have to be underscored.”

The court issued notice to the State Government, Chief Secretary, Health Secretary and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and directed them to respond by July 23, on the following points:

1: Preventive and remedial measures taken to check the spread of dengue in Bengaluru and other districts of the state.

2: Steps taken to provide medical facilities in the city of Bengaluru and in Rural areas.

3: Availability of infrastructure.

4: Steps and programmes undertaken to create public awareness.

5: Steps taken to control mosquito breeding.

Advocate Shashi Kiran Shetty assured the court that the government would file a compliance report at the earliest.

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