Staff Reporter / NEW DELHI
The Supreme Court today sought response from the Centre and the Bihar government within seven days on the issue of the deaths of more than 100 children in Muzaffarpur due to the outbreak of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome.
A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and B R Gavai directed the Bihar government to file an affidavit on the adequacy of medical facilities, nutrition and sanitation, and the hygiene conditions in the state.
During the hearing, one of the lawyers told the court that similar deaths had occurred earlier in Uttar Pradesh. The court took note of it and directed the state government to file its response as well. The petition, filed by an advocate, also sought directions for all possible steps to stop the disease outbreak in the earlier epicentre, Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, and to create awareness about preventive steps and first-aid.
It also sought a direction to the Centre for constituting a board of medical experts and immediately sending it to Muzaffarpur. The matter has been posted for hearing after 10 days.