The Delhi High Court has dismissed the plea seeking to scrap ‘Death Audit Committee’ constituted by the Delhi Government while stating there seems to be no arbitrariness or discrimination being done nor is there are any material to show false fabrication of data in relation to the number of COVID-19 cases and the number of death due to the same.
A division bench presided by the Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan of Delhi High Court while conducting hearing through video conferencing noted that the petition is entirely based on presumptions and conjecture merely based on news reports without any research.
“We are not sitting in appeal against the reports published by the Death Audit Committee from time to time. Moreover, there are no basis for the allegations to the effect that the Committee is not working properly,” said the Court.
The Public Interest Litigation had been filed by All India Lawyers’ Union through its secretary, Advocate Sunil Kumar, alleging that the Delhi Government is not presenting the real data and sought directions to the Delhi Government to publish the daily data related to the COVID-19 positive cases and death toll through the daily bulletin in every 24 hours.
However, the Court said that DAC is expected to publish the data related to the number of deaths and COVID-19 positive cases only when it is properly analyzed and further directed the Committee to maintain such data properly.
Whereas, in a statement on Sunday Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Mr. Manish Sisodia said, “I am glad that honorable Delhi HC has put an end to ugly politics being played by some opposition leaders on such a sensitive issue.” Mr. Sisodia further added that the Delhi government is providing correct numbers related to the issue everyday.
Read the order here;
DNP22052020CW32342020_115727-India Legal Bureau