The Delhi High Court in a special sitting convened at 12:30am on Wednesday directed the Delhi Police to deploy all resources at its command ensuring the safe passage of injured people in riot hit New Mustafabad area in North-East Delhi to the nearest available government hospitals, on a writ petition filed by social activist Rahul Roy against the Government of Delhi and others.
Judge S Murlidhar J had received a call from advocate Suroor Mander explaining dire circumstances in which wounded people were lying in very small hospital with less facilities, Al Hind Hospital, Mustafabad, were not allowed to be shifted to nearby GTB Hospital situated in Dilshad Garden, and she requested an urgent hearing.
The special sitting was convened by a coram of two judges Justices S Murlidhar and Anup Jairam Bhambhani in the house of Justice Murlidhar on the orders of senior most Judge of High Court GS Sistani, as Chief Justice was not present at the moment.
Advocate Suroor arranged a doctor from Al Hind Hospital to speak to the judges over phone. The doctor appraised the court of the situation in the hospital. Alok Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police and Rajesh Deo, DCP(Crime) was also present for the hearing. The doctor told the court that 2 dead persons were lying in the hospital and 22 injured persons were then lying in the hospital and he despite seeking help from the police was unsuccessful to send them to nearby government hospital.
DCP(Crime) gave the number of Deepak Gupta, DCP(East) to Dr Anwar as well spoke to Gupta instructing him to reach Al Hind Hospital despite all odds, in the presence of the court.
The while the order was being dictated the DCP(East) managed to reach Al Hind Hospital and confirmed that process of evacuating the injured had started.
The Court also directed the Delhi Police to file compliance report in the matter by 2:15pm.
The matter will be listed again for hearing before 2:15pm today.
18 people have been killed including a police head constable and at least 200 were injured as violence spiralled over the citizenship law in many parts of Delhi. Shops, houses and a petrol pump were also set blaze in the North-East district. A mob also burnt down a tyre market in Gokulpuri area, where majority of the shops were owned by Muslims.