[Allahabad High Court] A bench led by Justice Siddhart Varma heard the suo moto case (574/2020) on the Covid crisis in Uttar Pradesh. A Letter Petition was also heard along which contended that the referral system (CMO reference) before admitting a patient is arbitrary.
J.Varma: What is this Referral letter?
Adv Anuj: If you have to be admitted into a private hospital or covid facility, you need to have a referral letter. I have personally suffered because this referral letter was not issued.
J. Varma: Mr. Goyal (AAG), please look into this.
Anuj: Now private hospitals are allowed to take 90% beds on their own, but in govt hospital, private and government medical colleges will continue to take 70% beds only after this CMO reference (referral letter)
Anuj: In a district like Chandauli or Bahraich, where there is only one district hospital which is providing the facility of oxygen and these people have the luxury of Apollo or Vedanta, there are running from pillar to post to get these reference letter.
J. Varma to AAG: Is it possible that oxygen can be served at home?
AAG: We have filed the annexure after doing a detailed study and the doctor has strongly advised not to do it.
Justice Varma: We want to help AAG, with all the possible efforts. What we want from Mr. Goyal is to give ears to us and take our directions to the concerned authorities.
Justice Varma: Mr. Goyal please look into this CMO reference and resolve this issue.
AAG: I will look into it and convey it to the highest authorities and get back to you.
Adv Anuj: "Even if the reference letter is issued, there is no guarantee that the bed would be issued. There are families where the whole family is positive and they are asking their relatives to get the referral letter from the CMO officer."
AAG: Everything depends on the public, if they want to get tested then they can visit L1 hospitals. The thing is, that they don't want to go.
J. Varma: I have two servants, who went to these L1 hospitals, who recently called up and told that there is no electricity, no hygiene and not even a proper toilet. There are mosquitoes, no bulbs, no sanitization, if they don't die from covid, they will die from dengue.
If even our servants are not being treated well, then how can you expect general public to visit these L1 hospitals?
: Justice Varma
AAG: Notes down all the aspects which are raised:
1. The mechanism which should be followed in these hospitals.
2. Logistics.
3. Care and protection.
AAG: "We need to strengthen the existing system rather than altering the mechanism. We have a rapid response team, consisting of doctors, emergency team, who are working on this. We need to strengthen the mechanism."
Justice Varma to AAG: I again request, if things are not in control then impose a two week lockdown. Please suggest it to your policy makers. It is blowing out of proportion, that is the first thing it seems.
Justice Varma: There is a shortage of doctors, there is a shortage of staff, oxygen, there is no L1, L2. Everything is good on paper, but the fact is that there is shortage. With folded hands, we request you to exercise your discretion.
AAG: We will get back to you with all the aspects as discussed above. We will instruct the concerned persons regarding the logistics and protective care in various hospitals.
The court came down heavily on the Election Commission and said that "neither the police nor, Election Commission did anything to save the people on election duty.."
Further, while expressing it's concern over oxygen shortage, the Court said:
"Even after seven decades of our attaining freedom with so many industries set up, we are not able to provide oxygen to our citizens, it's a matter of shame."
“People are waiting in queues outside every hospital in search
of a bed for survival but only a very few lucky ones are
getting chance.": Allahabad High Court
#SupremeCourt hearing a PIL seeking an investigation into the death of Kalikho Pul, former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh in 2016.
Justice UU Lalit: You are not even aware of the stage of probe. How can a Article 32 petition be entertained here?
Justice Lalit: the person committed suicide 4 years before. You made a representation one year later and you have no relationship with the deceased. Either you withdraw or we will dismiss
AG Vijay Narayan: Both Election Commission and State Govt have seriously considered the suggestions made by Court. The Election Commission has passed a very detailed order dated April 28...
Court: Let us be very clear, the Election Commission has the authority to even take over the administration.. to ensure that COVID protocol is maintained ...
#BombayHighCourt refuses to take up the plea seeking directions to ensure that vaccine for COVID-19 is supplied at the uniform rate of Rs. 150 per dose for citizens across the country.
Chief Justice Dipankar Datta: #SupremeCourt has said issues which have pan India will be considered by them. Pricing is a phenomenon applicble all over India.
CJ: Since #SupremeCourt has taken cognizance before you filed the petition, you can approach them. You cannot keep filing petitions. We are alive to the situation and are hauling up the centre and state governments for providing better treatment to the people.
There's nothing much that can be done that this stage. Probelm appears availability of oxygen: Amicus in the matter, Senior Adv Rajshekar Rao on national allocation order
What is the status of the 2 plants were to be made operationalised. And what about other plants: Rao
Large chunk of Delhi population is seeking recourse to hospitals in neighbouring areas : Rao
The Karnataka HC to shortly hear a case registered suo motu after it received two letters highlighting various difficulties faced by COVID-19 positive patients in the State.
CJ Abhay Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar will hear the matter