The Delhi High Court on Thursday detained the Delhi government for its delayed action in handling the growing number of Covid-19 cases in the national capital as it sought to know why it was awaiting the court’s order to reduce the number of attendees to the weddings. .
A bench of Judge Hima Kohli and Judge Subramonium Prasad said that the Delhi government cannot blame the Center for the lack of cooperation and that both authorities should join their heads to address the situation. He said the situation has worsened in the past 18 days and that it was only after the court pulled the government out of Delhi that it set things in motion.
“Why didn’t you get up early? The alarm bells should have been ringing loud in your head. Why did you wait for a court order to reduce the number of people? The city is reeling and you allowed transport at full capacity. Tell us the rational object behind this decision. Why didn’t you wake up even after the situation got worse since November 1?
“They pulled you out of the dream, you turned into a turtle after we asked questions. Do you know the number of lives that have been lost in the last 18 days? Yesterday there were 134 deaths in a single day and the government claims that you were aware of the situation. The ground is full of corpses. Why did they have to look to the Center and the Lieutenant Governor (LG) for directions? “Said the bank.
Also read: Delhi: wedding slows down when coronavirus cases reach 500,000
The court was hearing a request from lawyer Rakesh Malhotra seeking directions from the Delhi government to increase the number of tests in the city.
On Thursday, top advocate Sandeep Sethi, who ran for the Delhi government, told the court that they had reduced the number of wedding attendees. He said people are being fined for not wearing masks and for failing to uphold social distancing rules.
However, the court said that even fining people does not act as a deterrent and people who have not left their homes for fear of infection have also contracted the virus.
The court said there must be a strong deterrent and the collection of fines is not for profit.
“It should be a strong deterrent for people to comply with the rules of wearing a mask,” the bank said.
The court said it is disheartening to note that the number of deaths has increased daily and that the highest number of deaths has skyrocketed to 134. Judge Kohli asked the Delhi government to indicate the steps they are taking to ensure adequate facilities are in place. for Covid-19 victims in the burning ghats and crematoria.
“What steps are you taking to manage the crematorium grounds? They are overflowing and the funeral pyres are working through the night … Considering the sharp increase in death rates in the last 14 days, the Delhi government should indicate the steps it has taken for the proper arrangements for those who have lost his life. Covid-19, ”the court said in its oral order.
The court also said that the Delhi government should be aware of the fact that rapid antigen tests no longer help due to the large number of asymptomatic people, adding that more RT-PCR tests should be performed for better results. The judge also noted that only about 50% of RT-PCR tests have been performed against more than two lakhs of rapid antigen tests between November 9 and 17. The court said that tests via RT-PCR should be increased.
During the proceedings, the court noted in its order that the Delhi government is not conducting the fifth sero-surveillance and claims that the third wave of Covid-19 is still ongoing, despite the government telling the press that the third wave has already reached its peak. in the city.
“The Delhi government has informed us that the fifth serosurvey has not been conducted because the city is reeling under the third wave. However, statements have been made to the press where the government has stated that the third wave has already reached its peak although it has not been reflected in the situation on the ground, “said the court.
When the Delhi government’s additional permanent counsel, Satyakam, objected and urged the court not to accept anything that has been published in the press, the court said: “Why don’t we accept this? We can take judicial note of the statements made by your ministers in court. If he retracts what he has said in the media, I will delete it. “
The court also asked the Delhi government to properly publish its September 12 order to reserve 80 ICU beds in 33 private hospitals in the city, both in print and electronic media.
During the hearing, ASC Satyakam told the court that the government would add 663 ICU beds (ventilator and ventilatorless) to the existing number of 1,167 ICU beds in government hospitals. He also told the court that around 750 ICU beds are being added after the Center’s assistance, and that a decision to close some occupied markets has yet to be made pending confirmation from the Union government.
The court ordered that ICU beds in government hospitals should be operational within the next week.
During the process, the court also noted that the Delhi government had anticipated the situation and still decided to open all activities.
“You had anticipated the situation very well because you had approved the order of September 12 (reserve 80% of ICU beds in the city). The cold wave along with the pollution during the winter months is a cocktail of death for citizens, especially those with respiratory problems, ”the court said.
The matter will now be known on November 26.
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