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Marad: HC calls for action taken report

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI Sept. 18. A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court today directed the State Government to file an affidavit explaining the steps taken by it pursuant to its earlier direction for taking over the five relief camps set up for those who had fled Marad or providing adequate and necessary financial assistance to organisations or persons who were running the centres.

The Bench comprising Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice K.K. Dinesan also directed the Government to state in the affidavit about actions, if any, it proposed to take on the Marad rehabilitation issue. The court ordered that the affidavit be filed before September 22.

The court issued the directions on a writ petition filed by two persons seeking police protection for returning to their homes in Marad. The counsel for the petitioner today submitted that they wanted the court to issue a positive direction for their rehabilitation. The court had issued the direction to the State Government to take over the relief camps or provide financial assistance to the victims when the petition came up before it last time.

The court had observed that the State Government could opt for either of the two options. The court had then made it clear that in case the State Government provided financial assistance to those who were running the centres, it would be open to the State Government to ``monitor and regulate'' the use of funds given by it.

The Bench had made it clear that the direction was intended to ensure that those living in the relief camps had a humanitarian existence. Besides, the court noted that the Government had no specific proposal to redress the grievances of families living in the camps. The Judges had observed that the Government had a ``moral duty and obligation'' to maintain the displaced families till they were able to return to their homes.

According to the petitioner, the displaced Muslim families were now staying in relief camps set up at Payyanakkal, Kappakkal, Kadalundi, Beypore and Chaliyam. These families were living at the mercy of those persons who had set up the relief centres. They also said that there had been no facilities for providing food, water or sanitation in these camps. There had been outbreaks of various contagious diseases. They pointed out that three persons had died due to the lack of immediate medical attention.

In its earlier affidavit, the Government had pointed out that the State Government was committed to rehabilitation of the displaced families at the earliest. It held the view that rehabilitation should be a gradual process, avoiding any backlash during the post-rehabilitation period. The affidavit also said that the Government had been providing all possible assistance to the people of Marad.

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