Thread by @barandbench

Karnataka HC will shortly begin hearing a case registered suo motu after receiving two letters highlighting various difficulties faced by COVID-19 positive patients in the State.

#OxygenShortage
#COVID19

When the matter was heard last Saturday, the Court was told that even ex-Chief Minister of Karnataka, HD Kumaraswamy could not secure a bed at Manipal Hospital, Bangalore after he tested positive for COVID-19.

@hd_kumaraswamy

The submission was made by advocate Clifton D Rozario while highlighting that there is a severe dearth of beds for COVID-19 patients in the State.

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Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar will hear the matter today. The Division Bench will assemble in a while.

#OxygenShortage
#Covid
#COVID19India

Bench has assembled.

Advocate Dalwai V: 2 Applications have been filed.

CJ Oka: We will come to that

CJ Oka: We have found that people are not getting oxygen in 24 hours.

Questions AAG Chinnappa on the same.

There are huge queues at crematoriums. How many crematoriums are there? CJ Oka

Adv Clifton: Staff at crematoriums at overworking for 16-18 hours per day. There is no land for burying dead bodies. There are almost 2 burials per day.

Will test results be made available in 24 hours? CJ Oka

It is all in paper: Justice Kumar

Adv Vidyulatha: It is definitely only in paper. I tested 52 hours, I have still not gotten my results. My maid also tested in govt hospital three days, even she has not gotten her result

If somebody has severe symptoms (in lungs or something..), even he will be denied admission without result: CJ Oka

A youngster was gasping for breath and died on footpath yesterday. He was about 30 years or so. I saw in electronic media: Justice Kumar

Create small helpline desks outside every hospital. Ultimately no one will remember helpline numbers.

Yesterday we got a letter saying all 30 helpline numbers are engaged. Considering the COVID numbers, 30 helplines are not enough now: CJ Oka

To avoid black marketing, can the State not purchase meds and give to hospitals?: CJ Oka

I'll find out if we can buy and supply: AAG Chinnappa

Then there will be no chance of black marketing, someone indulging in it: CJ Oka

Court questions State on availability of oxygen levels.

Mr. Chinnappa, the bottom line is this - situation is very very bad: Justice Kumar

We will issue a direction today - that stock of meds with each agency will have to be updated in a website: CJ Oka

We will pass orders on these aspects. We will hear everybody : CJ Oka

ORDER - Interim orders of bail and pre-arrest bail were not extended previously. We direct that bail, pre-arrest bail passed in various criminal courts in state which are likely to expire between 23rd April and 1st May shall stand extended to May 29.

We received a letter stating that COVID-19 drugs are being sold on the black market. He also raises issues of lack of beds and oxygen: Bench

As noted in an earlier order, failure to provide test results in a reasonable time is creating very issues. Direct State to implement the same scrupulously. We direct state to take action against those labs that don't give results in reasonable time: Bench

We note here that in absence of any clarity on part of govt, even non-covid critically ill patients are not admitted in hospitals unless they produce negative RTPCR report. Same for delivery of pregnant women: Bench

State will have to seriously consider involving a policy ensuring that in those cases where there are no symptoms, compulsion will not be made for a negative RT PCR test. State will consider this issue seriously: Bench

State to consider having separate queues for pregnant women and senior citizens for taking covid tests in labs: Bench

We hope and trust committees constituted under govt order are functioning effectively: Bench

If patients are unable to get remdesivir (covid drug) in adequate quantities, then it is violation of Article 19. Direct State to give real-time updates of quantities of drug in shops. Direct to appoint officers to ensure that black marketing in not there: Bench

To avoid all controversy, State to consider whether it can directly buy the drug from manufacturers or dealers and then supply to hospitals: Bench

Supply of Oxygen- It is not been stated (in written submissions) about the existence of any mechanism for hospitals that badly need to procure oxygen. State to immediately consider having some kind of distribution system where State itself can provide the same to hospitals: Bench

AAG states that the State govt nominated its own officers in each oxygen manufacturing units. Necessary details will be placed on record on the next date: Bench

Another issue is on lack of crematoriums. Serious concern expressed about overburdening staff and furnaces breaking down due to overuse, State has to step in and provide additional facilities for crematoriums: Bench

Christian community facing a serious crisis as there is no place to bury bodies. In one of the orders, we have dealt with dignified burial of COVID-19 patients. State will have to step in: Bench

Adv Clifton submits on the dearth of beds. The state will have to find out many beds with ventilators are required: Bench

ORDER - At this stage, we clarify that all orders passed by this Court from time to time (in covid matter) will continue to operate in full force.

There has been an exponential rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in past 3-4 days.

We will continue to hear matter tomorrow. We will assemble tomorrow, on Monday for this purpose : Bench

Matter will be next on April 23.

Bench rises.