CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has directed the Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare department to file an affidavit indicating the status of compliance of action recommended by a technical committee for formulation and monitoring of rehabilitation programmes for leprosy cured persons.
The court issued the direction on Tuesday while hearing a PIL, filed by general secretary of State Leprosy Welfare Federation Bipin Bihari Pradhan in 2015, for effective implementation of National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP). A division bench of Chief Justice S Muralidhar and Justice BP Routray directed the Additional Chief Secretary to file the affidavit by the next date of hearing (January 5) and remain present via video-conferencing.
The direction assumes significance as there are 87 leprosy colonies in the State. As per the affidavit filed by the Social Security & Empowerment Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) department, the Heath and Family Welfare department has been already asked to take action on the recommendations of the technical committee.