Rights panel seeks report on 75 cases in Murthal dhabas

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, September 4

The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) on Friday took cognisance of a report published in The Tribune “2 Murthal dhabas sealed as 75 employees test positive” and sought a detailed action taken report from the Deputy Commissioner and the Civil Surgeon of Sonepat district.

The HHRC observed that as per the report, 65 workers of Sukhdev Dhaba and 10 staff members of the adjoining Garam Dharam Dhaba in Murthal had been found Covid-positive.

In its order, the HHRC said it was one of the eateries on the national highway that see a heavy footfall every day, especially people from Delhi NCR.

“Though the district administration has sealed the two eateries, 75 cases from one place points out the negligence of the district administration,” the order reads.

“It is the prime duty of the district administration to ensure safety measures and guidelines have been followed by dhaba and restaurant owners in order to check Covid spread, as it is a communicable disease,” the HHRC said.

It sought a report from the Deputy Commissioner and the CMO with regard to action taken by them against the said dhaba owners as well as what preventive action had been taken by them to ensure safety measures and guidelines were followed by the other dhabas and restaurants.

The HHRC directed them to submit the report within two weeks. The next hearing is on September 29.

Shyam Lal Poonia, DC, Sonepat, said: “Officials have been directed to sanitise the two dhabas. Both eateries will remain sealed till all contract tracing exercise is completed. The reports of action taken will be submitted to the commission.”