MHA directs West Bengal govt to 'cooperate' with teams sent to assess lockdown compliance in state

The Union Home Ministry has directed the West Bengal government to extend cooperation to, and allow smooth functioning of, the two Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) deputed by the Centre to assess the lockdown situation and compliance in the state.

Union Home secretary Ajay Bhalla in a letter to West Bengal Chief Secretary Rajiv Sinha said that it has come to the notice of the central government that the teams have been "specifically restrained" from making any visits and assessing the ground-level situation, which amounts to "obstructing the implementation of the Orders issued by the Central Government".

"As you are aware, vide MHA Order dated April 19, 2020, two Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) have been deputed to the State of West Bengal to review the implementation of lockdown measures after making an on-spot assessment of the situation prevailing in identified select districts," Bhalla said in his letter.

"It has been brought to the notice of this Ministry that both the IMCTs, at Kolkata and Jalpaiguri respectively, have not been provided with the requisite co-operation by the State and local authorities. In fact, they have been specifically restrained from making any visits, interacting with health professionals and assessing the ground-level situation. This amounts to obstructing the implementation of the Orders issued by the Central Government under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and equally binding directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court," the letter read.

Bhalla added that the state is "directed to comply with the MHA Order dated April 19, 2020, and make all necessary arrangements for the IMCTs to carry out such responsibilities as have been entrusted to them vide the aforesaid Order".

Bhalla has also said that the teams comprised of public health specialists and officers of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) "whose expertise can be leveraged by the State Government for management of COVID-19 pandemic".

The MHA said that these teams were deputed under the authority conferred on the Central Government under Section 35 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, sub-clause 1 of which states that: "...the Central Government shall take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of Disaster Management."

Bhalla also quoted a Supreme Court observation that state governments will comply with the directives and orders issued by the Union of India in the interest of public safety.

"The said observations of the Supreme Court must be treated as directions and faithfully complied with. In view of the powers exercised by the Central Government under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the clear directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the obligations imposed on the State Governments in the interest of preventing the spread of COVID-19 must be strictly followed," Bhalla said in his letter.

( With inputs from ANI )