If State govt would not have been doing anything, as alleged, then probably, by now, we all would have been dead: Gujarat HC
May 31, 2020
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has in its judgement related to Covid-19 situation has made some interesting remarks. Here are those remarks in full text:
Before we close this order, we would like to express our anguish over the unnecessary debates and comments that are going on as on date on the social media and other platforms. We have gathered an impression that our orders passed time to time in the larger interest of the public are being misused for some oblique motive. In our opinion, the Public Interest Litigation is meant for the benefit of the lost and lonely and it is meant for the benefit of those whose social backwardness is the reason for no access to the Court. We also say that the PILs are not meant to advance the political gain and also to seek any political mileage. The Public Interest Litigation should never be made a political battle. 54 In times of crisis, we need to bind, not bicker. The COVID 19 crisis is a humanitarian crisis, not a political crisis. Hence, it is imperative that no one politicise this issue. The uncertainty about COVID19 and its impact on our economy makes it even more important that the government does the right thing in terms of its policies. In these extraordinary circumstances, the role of the opposition is equally important. There is no denying that the role of the opposition is to hold the government to account, but in times like this a helping hand would be more beneficial than a critical tongue.
Merely criticising the government in power is not going to magically cure people of COVID 19, nor is it going to to make the dead come back to life. This pandemic is only threatening in terms of health, safety and well being and nobody is benefitting from this crisis. By politicising this issue one would in fact be downplaying the widespread suffering it has caused and further would be placing politics and political intent before the aim of helping and saving lives. 56 While adversarial criticism may do no good, constructive criticism can help. Simply highlighting the flaws and gaps in the State’s handling of the situation only creates fear in the minds of people. People are least concerned about political ideologies and rivalries when their lives are at stake. There is a common threat and it is scary and people want to see collaboration. They want to see their leader come together and fight this together. By far most democratic countries that have been successful in dealing with this pandemic have one big thing in common a spirit of cooperation between political parties to fight a common unknown enemy, the virus. A similar sense of cooperation, understanding and constructive criticism can be powerful weapons for the Gujarat State to fight this pandemic.57 We request one and all to be very careful from now onwards before commenting or entering into any debate with regard to Court orders that are being passed from time to time in Public Interest. Our message is loud and clear. We need not further elaborate on this issue.All those who cannot extend their helping hand in this difficult times and do anything good for the people at large have no right to criticize the functioning of the State Government. If the State Government would not have been doing anything, as alleged, then probably, by now, we all would have been dead. All that we are doing in this litigation is to keep the State Government conscious and active by reminding its constitutional and statutory obligations.
DeshGujarat
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