The Bombay High Court directed State Government and Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai to file affidavit explaining the availability of Personnel Protective Equipments, status of reservation of 20% beds for poor people in private hospitals and the administration of Hydroxychloroquine to the patients having symptoms of COVID-19 despite not being permitted.
While conducting hearing through Video Conferencing division bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice A.A.Sayed noted as per previous orders the affidavits were invited from the State as well as the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, the State has filed its counter affidavit but the Corporation by filing an Interim Application had prayed for extension of time to file its counter affidavit by May 19, 2020.
The Court was hearing the PIL filed by “Jan Swasthya Abhiyan” raising the pivotal issues relating to management of the crises triggered by COVID-19
Learned Senior Counsel appearing for the Petitioners contended that front-line workers at Non-COVID hospitals and wards are not being provided with Personal Protective Equipment’s and also 20% of the beds which are required to be reserved for poor patients in private hospitals are not being reserved. Further he added that guidelines relating to quarantine centres are not being followed and administration of Hydroxychloroquine to the patients having symptoms of COVID-19 despite not being permitted by the extant medical protocol is being administered.
“We wish to clarify that the Corporation shall, in its counter affidavit, as well as the State, in a further affidavit to be filed by May 18, 2020, touch upon the points of complaint argued by Mr. Desai which have been noted above,” said the High Court.
“Such affidavit may be circulated to the parties to this PIL Petition by e-mail. If the Petitioners so choose, they may file their affidavit-in-reply thereto by May 18, 2020”, said by the court.
-India Legal Bureau