Thread by @barandbench

Karnataka HC to begin hearing a batch of petitions on curbing the spread and management of COVID-19 in the state.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar will hear the matter.

#COVID19India
#CovidIndia
#KarnatakaFightsCorona

The Court was hearing a case registered suo motu after it received two letters highlighting various difficulties faced by COVID-19 positive patients in the State.

#COVID19India
#KarnatakaFightsCorona
#CovidHelp

What is scenario of availability of beds? Bench asks BBMP counsel

How many more facilities provided from last hearing till today? Bench asks

BBMP Counsel: ICU with ventilators is 418, ICU beds available now is 497.

HC: Increase in beds is very marginal.

What do you propose to do to create more beds? Yesterday also we had around 15,000 cases. Compared to the number of cases, the number of beds is not proportional : Bench

#Covid

Bench: On last occasion, we had asked you to approach ESI, Defence etc.

BBMP: They have declined.

Bench: They have declined?

Bench: Military, Air Force, is there in the city, request made by BBMP has been rejected. Counsel for Union Govt immediately take up the request with the authorities and make beds available.

Who is available for Centre?

Bench: Ensure that some beds are made available from Command Hospitals.

Advocates: They are reputed hospitals

What is situation in other parts of Karnataka ? Many other districts have sudden surge now: Bench

#CovidHelp

We need the latest, district-wise updates. This data is from 14th : Bench

Justice Kumar : Yesterday GOC has said that 2000 beds facility has been created, it is there in today's newspapers.

State should immediately convene a meeting with him. . You are ASG : Justice Kumar

What about publishing data on availability of remsidivir and oxygen levels in the State?

We have said that data should be published on who are the dealers and the availability of remsidivir, every day.

Why haven't you complied with it? : Bench

From 24th, everyday cases are increasing. How will patients get remsidivir? How will they know where to go? Will they run from pillar to post? : Bench

This is why we asked you to be give publicity to availability of remsidivir? : Bench

#COVID19India

Tomorrow State-wise lockdown starts. when relatives (of patients) are told to get remsidivir, where will they go? Tell us .... : Bench

State has not done anything, BBMP has not done anything : Bench

AG Prabhuling Navadgi : I am sorry, milords. There has been some issue to put data in public domain

Bench : The availability of remsidivir on public domain, along with all other details, we want compliance by tomorrow.
#COVID19India

At least do it in case of Bengaluru city first, and then in other cities in state : Bench

President of PHANA to Bench: Today supply of remsidivir is only 25% as against demand

President of PHANA: Govt has huge stock of Remdesivir they are not releasing it.

Bench: This is a responsible person. AG look at this

#KarnatakaFightsCorona

Court is informed that only 50% of oxygen is supplied as against demand.

We try to procure oxygen from private players with great difficulty.

We pay 3 or 4 times the price : President of PHANA

There is no network of State govt or BBMP to supply Oxygen.

The state war room is unresponsive, they have not helped us in anyway, he further informs Court.

HC ( to State) : What is this Warroom doing?

AG: The war room is of BBMP.

BBMP: It is run by the state govt.

HC: SO there is a dispute now on who runs the war room?
But AG, Warroom is run by the State.

AG: I stand corrected, milord.

Bench : There is a huge gap between requirement and availability of Oxygen in the state? How are you (state) going to bridge the gap?

Bench: Mr Kumar, there is huge shortfall of oxygen in the State. What is the Centre going to do?

#COVID19India

AG, this is a very serious issue. If you go by your own affidavit, there is a serious shortfall. What is the State going to do? Bench

I will find out, milords. Your Lordships may keep it tomorrow, I will address the Court on all these issues : AG

HC: Dr Prasanna, you address a letter with what you have said today and give a copy with the AG so that he can take it up with the authorities.

#COVID19India

47,777 Oxygen beds needed in the State : Adv Clifton

Submit Statistics to AG : Bench

Adv Clifton submits that food security of the poorer classes.
Adv Clifton : Lockdown has been declared, it creates situation about food security of vulnerable sections. It should not happen that you have to fight covid and also for getting food.

AG : This is not adversarial litigation anymore. It is constructive. All the advocates can mail the issues they want the State to answer.

Bench : Tomorrow or day after, you can have a VC meeting with all the advocates.

Clifton flags issues on pourakarmikas and vaccination for prisoners

ORDER

Bench : We are dealing with three main issues - availability of oxygen, beds and remsidivir.

This has direct correlation with Article 21 of the Constitution.

Only marginal increase in availability of beds in the city. Not sufficient to cope up with virus.

State, BBMP to make efforts for substantial increase of beds in the city.

At 11:15 only 75 beds available in the City. This is alarming : Bench

State to place on record availability of beds throughout the State, esp in districts where there are more than 5000 active cases.

Data to be submitted day after : Bench

Centre to inform whether beds in Commando hospital can be made available for COVID-19 : Bench

Oxygen level

1471 Metric Tonnes will be needed per day.

GOI agreed to allocate 802 MT in the State.

We direct GOI to make the immediate allocation.

If this is not done, the shortfall of Oxygen will be more than 800 MT : Bench

Private hospitals can procure only 50% of Oxygen levels.
This is alarming. There is large need for Oxygen : Bench

Data of remsidivir and oxygen was directed to be put up. Tomorrow lockdown is starting. People cannot be expected to go to various shops. State must step in immediately : Bench

We find that situation is fairly alarming. AG assures that he will convene meeting with advocates appearing in this matter and will understand their grievances, not only on these issues but food security, vaccination etc : Bench

We once again emphasize on Centre providing 802 MT to the State : Bench

Petition to be listed on Thursday : Bench

Bench suggests making Adv Vikram Amicus Curiae in the matter.

AG : We will make special counsel for State. He will come.

We make it clear that President of PHANA or any other officer will remain present on the next date of hearing : Bench

Adv Amruthesh informs Court on issues of Liquor.

Bench: Mr. Amruthesh, we are dealing with life-threatening issues now. After this, we will have to hear on food security, vaccination etc.

We don't wish to go into this now : Bench

Matter comes to an end