The Supreme Court has ordered the government to make special arrangements for pregnant women and their new-born babies by making provisions for regular check-ups and vaccinations during the lockdown.

Issuing an interim order in the name of the government, a division bench of justices Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and Sushma Lal Mathema told the government regular check ups for pregnant women must not be affected in any way due to the lockdown.

Hearing a writ petition filed by advocate Roshani Poudel and others, the apex court also ordered the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens to create necessary helplines for pregnant women as the existing one (1145) was not effective.

“Nepal’s constitution has ensured safe motherhood and right to reproduction as the right of the women, and therefore there must not be any hindrance for women to enjoy this right,” the interim order states.

The writ petitioners have also raised other issues such as the non-representation of woman in the High-level Coordination Committee to combat Covid-19, increase in domestic violence cases during the pandemic, violations of women’s reproductive health and non-prioritisation of women while allowing people to cross the border.

After hearing from 45 lawyers, the Supreme Court has also ordered the government to provide special security to women during their stay in quarantine or isolation. Besides, the court has told the government to ensure that legal action is not affected in cases related to domestic violence, during the lockdown.