Thread by @fpjindia

The #Aurangabad bench of the #BombayHighCourt of Justices Ravindra V Ghuge & Justice B U Debadwar starts hearing a suo motu #PIL on #COVID19 related crisis

J Ghuge: We intend to issue notice along with directions for the eight districts of Marathawada.
J Ghuge: Any person who wants to come out of their homes in these districts should carry an #Aadhar card, even if the person is on foot.

J Ghuge: Those riding two wheelers should wear a helmet and a mask. Mask is compulsory for everyone.

J Ghuge: Mobile numbers of people who step out can be recorded

J Ghuge: I have seen people riding motorcycles riding sometimes with three or four persons without wearing masks right outside the high court premises. Citizens need to have discipline, and cannot blame the government.

J Ghuge: And positive cases are going down because enough testing is not happening. We are going to order to increase testing

J Ghuge: Notices to be issued to Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, Commissioner of Aurangabad, SP Aurangabad Rural on April 29

J Ghuge: Prima facie it appears that the residents of the 12 districts of Marathwada need to find restraint and discipline.

J Ghuge: We had taken a note earlier in the pandemic for citizens assaulting police officials who have stopped people for not wearing helmets, masks.

J Ghuge: #Aurangabad and eight district authorities to hold a press conference everyday after 7 pm to provide update on #COVID facilities

J Ghuge: Maintain adequate supplies of vaccine to these districts. Rapid Antigen and #RTPCRTest tests to be increased

J Ghuge: 11 am to 7 am complete lockdown barring the four hour relaxation to be maintained in all the districts. Saturday and Sunday to be maintained as complete lockdown. Only essential service providers as mentioned by the #Maharashtra government to be allowed

J Ghuge: Any person who is found using a two-wheeler, three wheeler, four wheeler or any other vehicle shall carry a #Aadhar card failing which police will register a case against the person. Ambulances will be exempted.

J Ghuge: Even doctors, medical staff and paramedical staff should carry #Aadhar card. Every person, barring pedestrians, bicycle or three wheelers, should wear a helmet. Rider and pillion rider should wear a helmet and is made compulsory.

J Ghuge: Any person stepping out on to the street on any vehicle should be wearing a mask covering their nose and mouth. Wearing the mask below the nose is an offence. Such people are super spreaders. Violation of this condition can be booked as per law.

J Ghuge: Considering the holy month of Ramzan has commenced on April 13 and Aurangabad authorities having given relaxation for the Muslim community for milk and food, no offences to be registered against them during the specific period.

J Ghuge: We expect all other district collectors to grant relaxation to Muslim community between 5pm and 8pm akin to the Aurangabad collector. These relaxations shall be restricted only to the holy fasting month of Ramzan and shall not be extended there beyond

J Ghuge: Any person holding a political post in a municipal council, corporation or zilla parishad or people's representative shall not try to extricate lockdown violators from police. If such an act is found, an offence should be registered against the person

J Ghuge: The above directions shall apply to a public servant who is not on duty.
In so far as the news times published by local newspapers are concerned with regard to relatives of patients who have died of #COVID19 is concerned...

J Ghuge: It is reported that person in charge of funeral ghats are seeking bribes for performing the last rites. In some places kerosene or petrol is used for setting the funeral pyre. Wood that is being used for performing the final rites is being sold at exorbitant prices

J Ghuge: ...Which amounts to black marketing. All divisional commissioners to erect electric crematoriums. There shall be a constant check of the concerned authorities to ensure that the relatives of the dead person and monies are not extracted from them for performing funeral

J Ghuge: The close relatives of the deceased person performing the funeral rites will not be required to seek permission of local police station, if the number of people attending the funeral are within the prescribed number

J Ghuge: However, the authorities will have the liberty to register offence if the relatives are found in violation on the number of attendees in the funeral.

J Ghuge: Persons who are found to have adulterated #REMDESIVIR or selling the drug at a higher price, then criminal case should be registered against them. If anyone from the state or others who are found selling #REMDESIVIR without authorization...

J Ghuge: as reported in local daily newspapers, criminal cases to be registered against such person

Advocate Pradnya Talekar: 10,000 vials of #Remdesivir are being distributed by an MP in Ahmednagar. I pray that the vials be seized and distributed as per state allocation.

J Ghuge: Of course. A criminal case should be registered and the vials of #REMDESIVIR should be seized. Please remind us, we will mention this in the order

J Ghuge: If a person is employed with the state and is found in violation the disciplinary action to be taken by the concerned department.

J Ghuge: There is a lot of reporting in the print media about #oxygen supply and #Remdesivir injections. We have taken note of divisional commissioners meeting where he has urged private hospitals to have their own oxygen plants. We find the suggestion highly appreciable

J Ghuge: We note the appreciation for the state of #Maharashtra. Chief public prosecutor to inform court on the next hearing if private hospitals have installed oxygen plants. Names of hospitals who have installed such plants be conveyed to court.

J Ghuge: In case where a pvt hospital approaches state for permission to install an oxygen plant, state authorities should not cause any delay in granting permission but taking into consideration that the oxygen plant is state of the art to avoid a tragedy like #nashikoxygenleak

J Ghuge: We are informed at this juncture that United Sigma hospital at Aurangabad has installed a state of the art oxygen plant which manufactures oxygen for their requirement.

J Ghuge: There are some news reports where private hospitals have advised patients to move them to other hospitals where #oxygen supply is available. It is distressing to see this.
In last 2 to 3 days, the state has ensured that equal allocation is being made to all districts

J Ghuge: No directions will be issued to grab #oxygen supply or #remdesivir injections for any district.

J Ghuge: We advise the authorities to give publicity to other drugs like #Tocilizumab400, #Itolizumab #Virafin to be used, to ensure so that undue load is not put on the production of #Remdesivir. Recently, govt of India has granted permission to use #Virafin

J Ghuge: Keeping in view that a single injection of #Virafin is good enough as compared to six doses of #REMDESIVIR

J Ghuge: Earlier directions issued by the court to be followed in the second wave of #COVID19

J Ghuge: Learned advocate Ms Talekar has mentioned a petition filed through her today titled as criminal #PIL mentions that a Member of Parliament, Ahmednagar procured 10,000 vials of #Remdesivir and distributed it to public at large, and made videos of publicity.

J Ghuge: To be heard on April 29.
Adv Talekar: I pray that the 10,000 vials be immediately confiscated as there is a shortage of #Remdesivir
J Ghuge: We find a serious allegation is made in the petition. Respondents to take effective steps as they would have normally taken...

J Ghuge: As they would have done in their call of duty

J Ghuge: Suo motu PIL to be heard on May 3 at 2.30 pm. Criminal petition filed by advocate Talekar to heard on April 29 at 2.30 pm

J Ghuge: Learned advocate Ingole representing #Nanded mentions that these rural parts are not to be neglected. Villagers are travelling to cities for treatment and hence mortality rates have increased. Primary Health Care centres which cater to eight to 10 villages in all talukas

J Ghuge: Rapid Antigen kits if made available at PHC centre which would help villagers or agriculturists so that they can at least get a basic test done. Though Rapid Antigen is not reliable and can have a false negative, but a positive result is positive.

J Ghuge: Rapid Antigen Test Kits to be made available to all PHC centres.