Himachal Pradesh HC Seeks Response On Availability Of Covid Facilities In State; Directs Covid Related Information To Be Uploaded On Govt Portal

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has sought response of the State Government on the availability of covid 19 facilities in the State with regards to the ambulances, hospitals including mental health hospitals and pediatrics facilities with regards to children.

A division bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua also directed the State Government to continue uploading relevant details about all Covid related activities including the number of vaccines given, number of vaccines to be given and number of deaths recorded on the State website.

The development came after the Court was apprised by the Senior Additional Advocate General appearing on behalf of the State Government that the State has been making every effort to prevent the spread of Covid and that more action will be taken by the State in this regard. 

On the other hand, Assistant Solicitor General of India apprised the Court that a proposal has been made to the Union of India for grant of Rs. 240 crores relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Court was also assured that necessary follow up will be taken in thie regard.

The Court was dealing with a suo moto writ petition instituted by it last year in order to review the covid 19 situation in the State.

During the previous course of hearings, the Court had directed the State Government to comply with the directions of the Supreme Court 's last year order by ensuring that the CCTV cameras are installed inside the covid dedicated hospitals and also to make available the footage to the respective Expert Committee for period observations for dealing with the covid 19 situation.

Earlier, observing that the situation may go out of control of the Government if RTPCR testing is not conducted in war footing, the Court had directed State Government to inform about the steps taken it to convert primary health centres into ICU Hospitals with oxygen facilities and also directed it to accelerate its work in combating covid 19 pandemic.

The Court had also noted that there was acute medical crisis in the State of Himachal Pradesh due to sudden surge and spread of COVID-19, which has engulfed not only the urban areas but has also reached the villages. In view of this, the Court had issued slew of directions to the respondent authorities.

Title: Court on its own motion CWPIL No.3 of 2020

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