The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court on Tuesday asked the state government to explain why, if medicines and food had been provided to patients undergoing treatment in home isolation during the first wave of the Covid pandemic, are such facilities not being provided during this high wave. The order was passed by the division bench of Justices Rajan Roy and Saurabh Lavania while hearing a PIL filed by Hari Pasad Gupta.
The petition has important issues pertaining to the provision of medical facilities and services to the public at large as also the lawyers and their wards.
Various counsels appearing in this case vouched for the veracity of the contention of the counsel for the petitioner in this regard.
The petitioner’s counsel submitted that in the first wave when a situation arose on account of lockdown that Covid-19 infected persons were not able to go outside their house to purchase essential food items for their daily survival, teh administration used to make arrangements for providing ration. But during this second wave this is not being done.
He also submitted that in the first wave the paramedical staff, after completing their duty for the day, were being lodged in hotels or guest houses, so that they may not spread the disease if they returned home. During this wave, however, this arrangement, too, has not been made. This means that paramedical staff goes back to his or her home after completing the day’s duty and this has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
It is also stated that though the Government has announced vaccination for persons in the age group 18-44 years, the fact of the matter is that vaccines are not available for this age group.
Gaurav Mehrotra, advocate appearing on behalf of the high court administration, asked to get instructions from the appropriate level and tell on the next hearing whether a temporary Covid hospital can be built in the high court.
Along with this, H.P Srivastava, Addl. C.S.C. has been ordered to be present on May 21 after receiving instructions from the state government on all points.
The Court has fixed the next hearing of the Petition on May 2