New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today noted that the various steps taken by the Delhi government are adequate for treatment of the COVID pandemic in the state. The court noted the presence of advance life support ambulances, real-time updates regarding the availability of beds, increased number of tests conducted, increased availability of ambulance and beds etc.
A divisional bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan, while hearing the suo motu petition through video conferencing, disposed of the petition stating: “We see no reason to further monitor the matter.”
The Suo muto petition was taken up by the court over the difficulty in admitting the mother of Dharmendra Bhardwaj and to monitor the steps taken by the Delhi government amid COVID-19.
Delhi Government’s standing counsel Rahul Mehra said that in furtherance of the order of this Court “we have 602 ambulances out of which 273 are for COVID19 patients and 296 for non-COVID patients. We are receiving 5,000 calls per day on the helpline numbers.
“Nine ambulances have advance life support and 296 have basic life support. Testing has increased from 18,000 per day to 22,000 per day. The Delhi has 12,000 beds empty for COVID patients. We are increasing our capacity daily,” Mehra added.
Mehra further informed the court: “We have also given orders to private hospitals not to refuse sample collection from home.”
The bench, while appreciating the contribution of the Amicus Curie Om Prakash, stated that the court appreciates the painstaking assistance of the Senior Advocate. When Prakash corrected the bench by saying that he is not a Senior Advocate, the Chief Justice stated: “You are a senior advocate with your knowledge and the court has faith in you.”
– India Legal Bureau