The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Uttarakhand government and the Gangotri District Collector to take the necessary steps to provide immediate relief in the form of drinking water, medicines and fuel to the stranded people in the state.
A Bench of Justice A K Patnaik and Justice Ranjan Gagoi also directed the deployment of sufficient number of helicopters to help evacuate the marooned locals. The apex court directive came on a PIL filed by advocate Ajay Bansal, which was put up for urgent hearing by senior counsel and president of the Supreme Court Bar Association M N Krishnamani. The Bench posted the matter to Tuesday to get a reply from the state and the Centre on the relief work undertaken so far. The petitioner sought the issuance of a writ for ensuring the protection of life and liberty of the persons, who are stuck in Gangotri and the other parts of Uttarakhand.
He also sought a directive to the Centre and the state government to initiate measures to provide the basic necessities to the stranded people and for steps to shift them to safer areas.
Standing Counsel of Uttarkhand, Ratna Srivastava told the Bench that the authorities had requisitioned seven helicopters, but they could not be pressed into service on account of the inclement weather.
Additional Solicitor General Rakesh Khanna informed the court that the Centre was providing all necessary help to the state government.
And the PIL was disposed of after issuing the notices to the state and the Centre.