Rajasthan HC Orders Compensation for Heatwave Victims

The Rajasthan High Court has directed the state government to provide adequate compensation to the families of individuals who succumbed to the severe heatwave this summer.

This directive, issued by a single-judge bench, underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to mitigate the impact of extreme weather conditions on vulnerable populations. The High Court has mandated the health department to ensure that all health centres are adequately equipped to treat patients suffering from heat-related illnesses. The directive aims to bolster the state’s healthcare infrastructure, ensuring timely and effective medical intervention during heatwaves.

Justice, presiding over the bench, has also called for the issuance of an advisory to protect outdoor workers, including porters, cart-pullers, and rickshaw pullers. The advisory will mandate rest periods between 12 noon and 3 pm, the hottest part of the day, to prevent heat-induced ailments among these workers. Additionally, the government has been instructed to sprinkle water on roads with heavy pedestrian traffic and to provide cooling spaces and shaded areas at traffic signals and other high-traffic locations.

The court has further emphasized the importance of public awareness in combating the dangers of heatwaves. It has directed the state to disseminate heatwave alerts through SMS, FM radio, television, mobile applications, and other media platforms to keep the populace informed and prepared. In a broader move addressing environmental protection and climate change, the High Court has taken suo motu cognizance, urging the chief secretary to immediately form committees from various departments to implement the ‘Heat Action Plan’ devised under the Rajasthan Climate Change Project. Justice highlighted the alarming frequency of deaths due to extreme temperatures, stressing the necessity of declaring heatwaves and cold waves as national calamities to ensure a coordinated and effective response.

This judicial order is a crucial step towards acknowledging and addressing the severe consequences of climate change. It underscores the importance of proactive governance in safeguarding public health and adapting to increasingly extreme weather conditions. The High Court’s directives aim to enhance the state’s resilience against heatwaves, protect the most vulnerable, and ensure that no life is lost due to preventable causes.