In the wake of the Nipah Virus outbreak in the district, the Kerala High Court on Friday ordered the stalling of proceedings in crowded and busy Kozhikode court until June 6. The order applies to the Magistrate and the Family courts. The court offices, however, will be functional.
The High Court has asked the District Judge to evaluate the situation until June 6 and then submit a report. Further decisions on court proceedings will be based on this report.
The Kozhikode Bar Association had earlier approached the High Court to stall the court proceedings. This was done in light of the death of TP Madhusoodhanan, senior superintendent of Kozhikode District Court. He succumbed to the Nipah Virus infection on Wednesday and is reported to have contracted the infection from the Kozhikode Medical College.
Kozhikode Bar Association President KK Krishnakumar has said that once the copy of the High Court order is received, a meeting of the Bar Association will be convened on Saturdayand a final decision will be made only after that.
The order was based on the report which the Kozhikode District Collector UV Jose had submitted to the High Court.
In the wake of a possible second wave of infection, Kozhikode is on high alert.
The government is making efforts to maintain a list of possible people who may have had contact with those who have died from Nipah. According to Kozhikode District Medical Officer Dr Jayasree, as of May 31, 1407 people are in the contact list. They have been placed under quarantine in their own homes.
“The health officials periodically call them to check if they have developed symptoms. If they have, they are immediately brought to the hospital. Ambulances have been arranged in case anyone needs to be shifted to hospitals,” Rajeev Sadanand, Additional Chief Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), the government of Kerala told TNM.
Apart from this, a few medical staff from the Balussery Taluk hospital in Kozhikode district who had been in contact with Nipah virus victims have also been placed in house quarantine.