The Patna High Court recently sought information from the state government regarding the factual status of vaccination and health infrastructure available in the State.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S. Kumar heard an interlocutory application filed in a connected case highlighting the plight of Ayush doctors working on a contract basis in the State.
Prashant Sinha, Counsel for the applicant, prayed to the High Court for granting liberty to the applicants to approach the Principal Secretary, Health, Government of Bihar, pointing out the grievances/ issue, subject matter of the application. The High Court disposed of the Interlocutory Application granting liberty to the applicants for the same.
The Court further granted liberty to the applicants to independently file a petition on the very same cause of action, if so required and desired also reserved to the applicants to make a mention for a listing of the petition on a priority basis.
It was said by the Court that as and when any such request is received along with a copy of this order, the said authority shall consider and decide the issue, in accordance with the law, expeditiously, in accordance with the law. The Bench is hopeful that the decision shall be positively taken within a period of three months. Moreover, if the applicants make a mention for the listing of the petition on a priority basis, the Registry shall take steps for listing the petition at the earliest, the Court directed.
In the main matter, the Court noted that the State had failed to take any decision regarding its previous order dated 13th May 2021, pertaining to the declaration of the strike/self-isolation called by the ” Rashtriya Swasthya Mission Karamchari Sangh, Bihar ” during the pandemic period.
Therefore, the High Court directed Anjani Kumar, Additional Advocate General to ascertain as to whether any decision stands taken on the grievances raised by the applicant.
“We also request Shri Anjani Kumar, learned Additional Advocate General No. 4 to ascertain the factual status with regard to (a) vaccination carried out in the State of Bihar; (b) the number of tests which are conducted on daily basis and the positivity rate found in the State of Bihar; (c) the infrastructure of health available at the district/sub-division”, the order read.