Concerned with possibility of Char Dham reopening being contemplated by the Government, Uttarakhand HC analyses COVID situation in the state [READ ORDER]

Analyzing and fully understanding the current COVID scenario in our country, the Uttarakhand High Court, on 9th June, Wednesday, observed that it was duly concerned with the possibility of Char Dham being reopened, as is being desired by the State Government.

The bench comprising of Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Alok Kumar Verma, issued a bunch of guidelines for the State keeping in view the fact that a third wave is being predicted in near future.

The court observed, “The state will have to be well prepared to tackle the third wave of COVID and the continuation of Mucormycosis.”

Guidelines suggested by the Court:

• The State Government must have a concrete plan to tackle the third wave.
• In order to tackle Black Fungus, the Government should come up with a concrete plan.
• State government, in collaboration with the Central Government, must make sure the proper supply of drugs such as “Liposomal Amphotericin B.”
• The infrastructure for treating the Black Fungus must be strengthened.
• The Department of Medical Health and Family Welfare is directed to issue a circular, clearly stating the upper cap charged by private hospitals.
• The said circular should make it clear that the fee is the maximum a private hospital can charge.
• The State Government is directed to implement SOP with regards to vaccination of people who do no possess the identity card.

Submissions by the State Government:

The State Government submitted before the Court that due to the steps that were implemented by them, the number of cases in the states have drastically declined.

More importantly, the Court was informed that a committee under the director, medical, health, and family welfare had also been formulated for examining the possibility of a third wave.

The Government submitted before the Court that in regards with the third wave predictions, the Government plans to strengthen the healthcare system, keeping in mind that the possible victims may be children.

Submissions by the intervenors:

• The private hospitals have been reserving beds for the elite members of the society.
• The correct numbers are not being published by the Government regarding the availability of ICU beds.
• The people who are nomads, people in old age homes, roadside beggars, people living in rehabilitation Centre or other unidentifiable people have been deprived of vaccination.
• There should be a district task force, who make it their number one priority to ensure these aforementioned people get vaccinated

The matter will now be heard next on 16th June 2021.

[READ ORDER]