Bombay High Court Chief Justice' Bench To Hear Covid-19 Related PILs During Summer Vacation

The HC summer vacations will start on May 10, 2021 and end on June 6, 2021.

The division bench of CJ and Justice GS Kulkarni said they would take up Covid-19 related cases even during the vacation, while adjourning a clutch of PILs on the issue for Thursday.

"We will take up covid - 19 related matters on Thursday as Advocate General is in bereavement," the CJ said about the passing on of the AG's father.

He then added, "This bench will hear covid-19 related matters during the vacation as well."

Last week the bench widened the PILs' scope, noting instances of frequent fires in hospitals. While directing the State to ensure all hospitals are fire compliant, the court observed, private hospitals have become "jatugrihas," the wax mansion built to kill the Pandavas in the Hindu epic, Mahabharata.

"A person who is ill and in agony expects proper treatment after he is admitted in a hospital. Meeting death in such unfortunate circumstances would be far away from his imagination," the bench had said while granting closure of hospitals if found seriously deficient in fire compliance.

During an earlier hearing, the bench also directed the State to ensure that anti-viral drug Remdesivir – is made available to patients at the hospital/Covid Centre itself without forcing them to run pillar to post, through a helpline number which must be operational 24/7.