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New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday allowed the Aam Aadmi Party government to reserve 80% of ICU beds in 33 private hospitals for COVID-19 patients. While expressing concern about an increase in COVID-19 cases in the national capital, a division court of Judge Hima Kohli and Judge Subramonium Prasad lifted a stay order imposed by a single judge court to the order of the government of Delhi in this regard.
“In view of the current situation in Delhi, the spiraling cases and the reality on the ground, which is different from how it was when the suspension order was approved, the suspension order in the reserve is annulled,” the bank said.
However, the HC added that no person in a health emergency may be allowed to run from one pillar to another in case of availability of beds. Furthermore, he said the nodal officers are in a position to relax the 80 percent rule for these hospitals without strictly obeying the decision of the Delhi government.
The Delhi HC announced its order after ASG Sanjay Jain told the court that there were three reasons for choosing these 33 hospitals: a large number of ICU beds, the ones that most favor the citizens, and the space available in the hospital for that that capacity could be increased if necessary.
Earlier today, the Delhi High Court asked the Aam Aadmi Party government to explain the reason for choosing 33 private hospitals and not the remaining ones to reserve 80 percent of ICU beds for COVID-19 patients.
A bench of judges Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad stressed that the health of citizens is the responsibility of the state, so other actors such as private hospitals must contribute. The HC added that the Delhi government cannot be allowed to gamble with the lives of citizens.
The court also said that the Delhi government needs to be much more attentive to the current situation that is being witnessed throughout the city.
The HC made the remarks while listening to the Delhi government’s petition urging the court to authorize it to enforce the reservation of 80 percent of ICU beds for COVID-19 patients in 33 private hospitals for at least 15 days amid the increase in the number of cases.
Describing the current COVID-19 infection scenario as “an extraordinary situation”, the bank said that the September notification from the Delhi government on the reservation of beds is out of date.
Asked the rationale for choosing 33 private hospitals, the HC said: “How have you done your exercise? Have you seen the population density and the extent of the infection? One of the petitioners, Rakesh Malhotra, had to go to Dwarka for treatment. “
“Hospitals work with a commercial logic … they have bills to pay and they also have a duty to the state, but why did they decide not to choose the remaining 82 hospitals,” questioned the HC division bank.
The Delhi High Court had observed yesterday: “Public gatherings in narrow streets would prove to be the super-spreaders of the virus.”
“Covid-19 cases are running rampant and no household has been left out of their effect. We think that corrective action would be taken and that the Delhi government would do what is necessary. However, the Delhi government is relaxing these rules.” added. Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad said Wednesday.
The sudden increase in COVID-19 cases in Delhi comes amid the festive season and rising pollution levels.
