The High Court of Delhi has constituted a Committee of Doctors to report on the feasibility of using certain hotels as COVID-19 Hospitals.
The bench presided by Justice Navin Chawla was hearing a batch of petitions by certain hotels named by Delhi Government to be used as extended COVID 19 hospitals who have challenged the feasibility of converting their premises to COVID 19 hospital.
The petitioners pointed out various issues like presence of air conditioning, the lack of large lifts which are capable of being used for stretchers, lack of bio-waste disposal, and also the lack of measure to safeguard the hotel work force that may be required by the hotels for providing services, may arise if the hotels in question are to be used as extended COVID hospitals.
The ASG appearing for the Delhi Government however submitted that, “these apprehensions are unfounded and looking into the grave nature of the situation that has arisen because of the pandemic, certain drastic measures, are to be taken by the Government.”
The bench directed Mr. Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS and Dr.V.K. Paul, Member of the Niti Aayog, to visit the hotels in question and give their report on the feasibility of using these hotels as extended COVID hospitals.
The bench has directed the Committee to submit its report by June 14 and has listed the matter for next hearing on June 15.
-India Legal Bureau