What will be your answer to kin of those who died due to coronavirus, HC asks Delhi govt

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has once again reprimanded Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in view of the worsening coronavirus situation in the city-state. A bench of the High Court headed by Justice Heema Kohli has asked the Delhi government what answer they would give to the families of those who died of the corona. The High Court has asked the Delhi government to file a status report and inform the court about measures having been taken regarding the arrangements related to the performance of the last rites of those who died of the coronavirus. The next hearing of the case will be held on November 26.

During the hearing, the High Court said that the number of deaths is increasing every day. Every day someone is losing someone close to his or her family. What will you answer to them? During the hearing, the Delhi government said that the positivity rate has reached 14 per cent. This is a very worrying situation to which the court said that after a long time you (Delhi government) have awakened from sleep. The court asked if the Delhi government wants to adopt the Feluda testing technique to which the counsel of the Delhi government said that they are considering this option very seriously.

‘WE ARE TRYING PROVIDE VENTILATOR FOR 1200 ICU BEDS’
When the High Court asked the Delhi government about the status of ICU beds, the Delhi government counsel informed that there is no shortage of ICU beds. We want ventilators to be provided with 1200 ICU beds. Currently, 500 ICU beds are available with ventilators. The Delhi government further informed that the Central government has promised to provide 750 ICU beds.

During the hearing, the petitioner told the court that the Delhi government portal showing the real-time availability of beds is not working. Then the court ordered the Delhi government to open the portal immediately and said that see if the data is visible there. Then the Delhi government lawyer said that they have just seen it and it is working.

The court said that we had expanded the scope of this petition in view of the present situation of the coronavirus in Delhi. These days around eight thousand cases are coming up every day. The number of containment zones has reached 406. In this situation, why there is an exemption for the movement of people and that too when the festival season is there and the air quality is quite bad. Wearing masks in public places and social distancing should be strictly followed.

‘Delhi government followed guidelines’

During the hearing, the Central government counsel informed the High Court that the Delhi government has not allowed many activities to be carried out which were necessary. The list of these activities has been submitted to the court. The court has found that the Delhi government has implemented additional measures in view of the festival season and orders have been issued for the same. The court noted that the Delhi government had increased the gathering limit for weddings but yesterday it was reduced to fifty by an order. The court also noted the guidelines with regard to the bursting of firecrackers on Diwali and the guidelines issued by the Delhi government on the occasion of Chhath Puja.

‘ENOUGH ENFORCEMENT TEAMS’
During the hearing, on the issue of social distancing, the Delhi government told the court that many mobile teams have been formed and fines are being imposed against those who are not following the norm of social distancing. There are 119 enforcement vehicles, while 134 enforcement teams have been formed to which the court said that considering the population of Delhi, this number is insufficient. Then the Delhi government said that it is the responsibility of the Delhi Police to ensure the enforcement of these guidelines. They are imposing fines against the violators. Then the court said that in the last one month only five people have been arrested for violating these guidelines. The southern and western districts are the worst affected, but the penalty imposed here is quite low.

‘NEED TO INCREASE RT-PCR TESTING’

The court said that the data of testing shows that there is a need to increase RT-PCR testing. The court said that the third wave of the coronavirus has arrived in Delhi and the fifth sero survey has not been done yet. The court said that it is very sad that there has been a big jump in the number of people who died from the coronavirus. The burden on health facilities is certain to increase as the infection increases. You should file a status report with regard to increasing the ICU beds.

Apart from this, the court also asked the Delhi government to file a status report on increasing beds for institutional quarantine and isolation. The court said that there is a huge crowd at the graveyards and cremation grounds to perform the last rites of the deceased. People are burning bodies throughout the night. Do you know all this? The court asked the state government to file an affidavit about the steps taken about the facilities at the cremation grounds and cemeteries across the capital.

‘ARE YOU WAITING FOR CORONA CASES TO DOUBLE?’

On November 11, the High Court had reprimanded the Delhi government and directed to file a status report as per its previous guidelines and in view of the current situation. The court had asked the Delhi government about unlocking when other state governments are strict about the corona, but Delhi is being unlocked regularly. The court had said that more than eight thousand cases of corona are being found in Delhi every day. Are you waiting for the corona cases to double?

'PETITIONER NEITHER GOT BED NOR HOSPITAL AFTER BEING HIT BY CORONA

During the hearing on 11 November, the petitioner Rakesh Malhotra informed the court that he had a corona infection and he neither got a bed nor admission in any hospital. With the help of a friend, he was admitted to a nursing home where none other than an oximeter helped him. The petitioner has sought the issuance of guidelines for adequate testing of corona patients in private and government hospitals and labs.