5-Star Covid Facility For Judges : Delhi High Court Closes Suo Moto Case After Delhi Government Withdraws Order

Delhi High Court has on Thursday been informed that the Delhi Government has withdrawn its order giving 5-star covid facility for Judges and their families at Ashoka Hotel, pursuant to the Court's order in the suo moto case.

A division Bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli have therefore closed the suo moto proceedings that it had undertaken to take cognisance of the issue and news paper reports regarding the same.

During the hearing, the Court was informed by Adv. Santosh Kumar that the Delhi govt order which had set up 100 Covid-19 beds in the Ashoka Hotel for judges and judicial officers has been withdrawn, pursuant to the court's order in its suo motu case.

The Delhi Government's order dated 28th April 2022, passed by SDM Geeta Grover, has stated that the Government has withdrawn with immediate effect the order that requisitioned 100 rooms in Ashoka hotel to set up covid facility for Judges.

Delhi Government's order has come after the Delhi High Court on Tuesday confronted the Delhi Government for its recent order to use 100 rooms of Ashoka Hotel, New Delhi for setting up of COVID Health facility for the use of Justices, other judicial officers of Delhi High Court, and their families.

The Court had clarified that contrary to what the order suggests, no such request has been made by the Delhi High Court. The Court has asked the Delhi Government to take corrective steps in terms of the order, or else the Court will quash it.

The Bench had noted that the order was very misleading, as the High Court has not made any such request and no communication was made in this regard.

Saying that no request has been made by Delhi High Court to the Delhi Government for setting aside Ashoka Hotel rooms for judges as COVID19 facility, the bench took suo moto cognizance of news paper reports regarding the same and issued notice to Delhi Government.

"All that we wanted was, in case they need admission, there may be some facility available . And that has been converted to such an order." the Court had said.

"Can we as an institution say that create a special facility for us? Will this not be blatantly discriminatory that people can't get treatment and there is a facility in five star hotel for us" the Bench further added.

The Bench stated that the projection of such an order is that the Court has taken the matter to benefit itself or the Government has done it to appease the Court.

The Bench had also said that the Media is not wrong in pointing this out as the order is wrong, and an exclusive facility like this cannot be created.

"Its unthinkable that we as an institution will want any preferential treatment." the had Bench said

"Its unthinkable that we as an institution will want any preferential treatment." the Bench said.