Thread by @barandbench

#MadrasHighCourt will continue hearing matters concerning COVID-19 management in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

The matter will be taken up by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy at 2.15 pm today.

Track thread for live updates.

#COVID19 #CovidIndia

Read an account of the last hearing:

Prime Minister also appealed to report accurate COVID-19 figures; would aid in the allocation of drugs, oxygen, vaccines: Madras High Court to TN

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19

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Bench assembles.

Senior Adv R Vaigai mentions matter regarding welfare of prisoners, informs she has been appointed amicus. Court says it can take matter up on Monday.

CJ also observes that High Power Committee has directed to be revived.

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19

Court issues notice in plea for risk and hardship allowance and incentives to Police Personnel and Cleaning Staff etc. Says matter can be taken up when court re-opens after vacation

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19

Court takes up PIL alleging overpricing in private hospitals.

In various States, there are caps that are put on pricing, CJ observes. He adds that there are incidents reported where huge amounts are charged without reason, even if some incidents are anecdotal

#MadrasHC #COVID19

We'll keep the matter on Monday. Issue notice: CJ

This must be looked into by State govt, Court records in order. Court also records that it has received letters raising this issue of overpricing by hospitals.

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19

Sr Adv Jayna Kothari appears in PIL filed by activist Grace Banu seeking that grant of COVID-19 cash relief of Rs 4,000 for ration card holders may be extended to transgender persons

A large number of transgender persons in TN have not been able to get ration cards: Kothari

#MadrasHighCourt issues notice returnable by a week in the PIL moved by Trans rights activist, Grace Banu, seeking the extension of Rs 4,000 COVID-19 state aid to transgender persons.

@thirunangai

#COVID19

Adv R Alagumani makes submissions in PIL seeking vaccine production at integrated vaccination centre at Chengalpettu.

He also argues in a plea for fixing medical treatment amid COVID, refers to GO issued by Kerala recently which had fixed prices.

#COVID19 #MadrasHighCourt

Ministry of Family, Health, and Welfare has now issued new recommendations on when is the appropriate time to get vaccinated, Adv C Kanagraj submits.

These guidelines may be useful for Govt of TN to follow: Adv Kanagraj

#COVID19 #MadrasHighCourt

Secondly, despite best efforts, we are not able to control the pandemic. we are now at 34.5k COVID cases. Govt has identified 15 districts with a high spread. A complete lockdown should be imposed in these districts, Adv Kanagraj argues.

#COVID19 #MadrasHighCourt

Adv Kanagaraj goes on to argue on COVID vaccines. Says, vaccine is good only for 8 months, a booster is needed thereafter. Govt should increase booster vaccines

Telangana has directly imported Sputnik. It's a single dose. TN should also consider importing, Adv Kanagaraj.

Siddha clinics and Ayurveda centres have been opened in some places, Advocate General R Shanmugasundaram submits in response to another PIL.

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19

Ensure that all instructions regarding #COVID are uploaded on the website: #MadrasHighCourt CJ tells State

AG says that almost all are uploaded. Adds that some may not be uploaded since some govt officers are also afflicted by COVID, since govt is working with 40% of staff.

Court records in order State's submission that by and large all govt orders, notifications on COVID are available on govt's official website.

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19

The State should ensure that all the government orders pertaining to COVID-19 are put up in chronological order on the website of the State, tn.gov.in: #MadrasHighCourt

#COVID19

Court disposes of the PIL seeking this prayer.

Court adds: It is hoped that the future govt orders and notifications are also similarly published in chronological order, so it is available at the click of a button

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19

Is there any plan, allocation, so far as the Central govt is concerned?: CJ Banerjee on #COVIDvaccines

ASG R Sankaranarayanan says that a report has been filed on how this is done, based on the number of active cases.

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19

ASG says he can file a report on what the future plan is.

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19

#Sterlite has started production of #oxygen again, AG R Shanmugasundaram informs Madras High Court.

#COVID19 #MadrasHighCourt

Government Pleader N Mala submits that Puducherry may require about 65 MT of oxygen in the coming days.

Also reiterates concern that residents from nearby districts in Tamil Nadu are also using hospital facilities in Puducherry.

#COVID19 #MadrasHighCourt

There is one INOX manufacturing company that produces #oxygen, from which supply about 40MT goes to TN and only 28 MT comes to Puducherry, Govt Pleader Mala submits.

#COVID19 #MadrasHighCourt

We have made a request to the Centre that we will be needing 65MT of oxygen in the coming weeks: Govt Pleader Mala submits, urges that Centre take a decision on this request

#COVID19 #MadrasHighCourt

Advocate V Vasanthakumar urges that considering the ground situation in Puducherry, JIPMER Puducherry should be converted partially to COVID camp.

Those are policy matters sir: CJ

Govt Pleader Mala informs that JIPMER has already been made a dedicated COVID hospital

#MadrasHC

CJ observes that Court has already made an offer for State to convert buildings in the District Judiciary campus, the High Court campus and the adjacent law college building to COVID facilities.

Notes that State is focusing on those buildings that can be converted overnight.

In response to certain submissions by Adv S Shamuga Raja, CJ informs: We have a testing entre on the High Court campus, results are available on a daily basis.

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID

CJ: We have now made it mandatory. Those not tested in the last 4-5 days are not being allowed entry (to HC). They have to sit it out until they get a negative report

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID

Cases in Chennai have dipped, 20k beds increased, oxygen now manageable, no serious threat: AG informs court.

CJ: We have to plan for the future also. We must not drop our guard ... so next time we are not caught napping.

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID

Court dictates interim order.

Court records that the figures furnished by TN and Puducherry reveal that despite the increasing number of positive cases, the rate of increase has fallen over the last seven days or so. Facilities have been augmented.

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID

#MadrasHighCourt records that ASG has filed a report, but it lacks details on the future allocation of drugs and vaccines.

A centralised plan of action to deal with emergency be indicated by the centre when the matter is taken on Monday, Court directs.

#COVID19

Court records that the oxygen allocated on the Eastern corridor is not supplied on regular basis; that there are oxygen generators and concentrators being pressed into service and that supply of liquid #oxygen is restricted to critical patients.

#MadrasHighCourt

Order contd.: There has to be an increase in the supply of #oxygen to both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Puducherry says that its demand may go up to 65 MT, though the supply at present is adequate and manageable, court records.

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19India

Court order cntd.: It is hoped that by now centre would have augmented supply of oxygen to ensure equitable and enhanced supply to all states including these two (TN and Puducherry)

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19India

Court order contd.: ... silver lining in such regard is the announcement by BHEL that it is going to start production of #oxygen at its two units in the State. Hoped that process is expedited.

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19India

Court order contd.: State reports that the technical glitch at Sterlite in Thoothukudi has been taken care of and a supply in excess of 6 MT (of #oxygen) was made to Thoothukudi govt hospital in the last couple of days

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19India

Court order contd.: The report filed by the State indicates the commencement of vaccination drive for the 18+ age group today ... does not appear that there may be sufficient doses of vaccine.

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19India

Court order contd.: Suggestions have been made for looking into the Sputnik vaccine which has been successfully tested, the single-dose version thereof.

@sputnikvaccine

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19India #CovidVaccine

Court order contd.: Some of the intervenors have also referred to the protection given by the two doses of vaccine already administered or in the process of being administered to cover not even a period of a year.

#MadrasHighCourt #COVID19India #CovidVaccine

#MadrasHC order contd.: There has to be some clarity in this regard, particularly by the center on the basis of a scientific study ... on when those already vaccinated would require another round of vaccination. The procurement of such vaccines should also be looked into.

#MadrasHghCourt orders that every endeavour should be made to declare COVID test results as soon as possible so that afflicted persons can quarantine even if he is asymptomatic.

#COVID19India

#MadrasHighCourt orders that local administration should be vigilant and come down heavily on those charging exorbitant rates for cremating the dead.

State should prepare local authorities to ensure there is an element of dignity in conducting last rites

#COVID19India

Court order contd.: There are several reports of unlawful demands and haggling in crematoria which should be avoided.

The local administration should come down heavily and ensure there are checks in place at all the crematoria.

#COVID19India #MadrasHighCourt

Court records submissions by greater Chennai municipal corporation that wanton use of disinfectants could have an adverse effect.

However, to the extent possible, a drive to ensure cleanliness should be untreated all over the state, #MadrasHighCourt says.

#COVID19India

Court: To the extent possible, sanitization in the use of sprays and disinfectants is effective, particularly at dumpsters where garbage is dumped. Should be undertaken on daily basis with concerned personnel being adequately protected.

#COVID19India #MadrasHighCourt

Hearing over.

Adv AV Arun clarifies that BHEL has only floated tenders and that it has not started the production of oxygen yet.

Matter posted next on Monday.

#COVID19India #MadrasHighCourt