The Allahabad High Court ordered on Tuesday (May 11, 2021) that no punitive action be taken against Lucknow's Sun Hospital and its employees in response to a FIR filed for allegedly spreading "false rumors" regarding an oxygen shortage.
A Division Bench of Judges, Siddhartha Varma and Ajit Kumar, requested last Friday (May 8) the Lucknow DM's response to the allegation of a lack of oxygen and death in its premises for two private hospitals (including the Sun Hospital).
FIR Against the Hospital
The High court on May 4, 2021 reported that the authorities responsible for procures and supply of gas are committing criminal offense in a strongly-drafted order concerning the loss of Covid-19 patients due to a lack of supply of oxygen. The High Court of Allahabad took note of the communication made by Sun Hospital on May 3 requesting the relatives of COVID-19 to take them away, as they were dealing with an oxygen shortage. The report was also called death by the High Court of Allahabad because of a lack of oxygen.
According to this, the Lucknow Administration lodged a FIR with Sun Hospital for reportedly spreading "fake rumors" about oxygen shortages (a day after the order was given to Allahabad HC).
The Hospital agreed subsequently to bring the FIR before the High Court of Allahabad.
The Hospital requested now on Tuesday (May 11) that the District Administration had failed to provide the hospital with an oxygen cell and had made absolutely misleading claims on the hospital's supply of oxygen.
It also submitted that Lucknow hurried to file the first information report against the hospital to prove compliance with the order from the district magistrate, rather than checking the truth.
It was submitted because, after the initial investigation, the hospital administration was exposed to threats and could not handle covid patients who had admitted to the hospital, the hospital was ready to show the inventory/stock list of the hospital, with which the oxygen cylinder was received.
To this, the Court remarked, "We are of the view that since an intervention application has been filed along with reply, we direct the State to consider the same and get the necessary information from the District Magistrate concerned and file an affidavit of the District Magistrate, Lucknow in reply to the said intervention application by the next date fixed."
In the meanwhile, the Court directed, "Until we finally decide the matter on the question of show cause notice and its reply and the action pursuant thereto taken against the hospital, no coercive measures shall be taken against the Sun Hospital and its staff pursuant to the first information report lodged."
