COVID- Plea To Cap Rates Of HRCT Test: Delhi High Court Directs Delhi Govt To Treat It As Representation

Dealing with a plea to regulate or cap the rate of High-Resolution Computerised Tomography ('HRCT') test in the NCT specifically for patients having COVID-19 symptoms, the Delhi High Court directed the Respondent Authorities to treat the same as a representation and to decide it in accordance with law, rules, regulations and Government policies.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh ordered thus:

"In view of this limited submission by the petitioner, this writ petition is disposed of with direction to the concerned Respondent Authorities to treat this petition as a representation and decide the same in accordance with law, rules, regulations and Government policies, applicable to the facts of the case and also keeping in mind that similar actions have been taken in many States in the country, both in Government and private hospitals."

During the course of hearing, it was submitted on behalf of the petitioner that that the price of the 'HRCT Test' has been recently capped in the Government hospitals at Delhi however there is no regulation or capping in the private hospitals and the rates are varying from hospital to hospital, mostly being at the higher side.

The petitioner also placed reliance on various states such as Maharashtra, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh wherein notifications have been passed to cap the prices upto Rs. 3000 only.

It was also submitted that in the States like Karnataka and Bihar rates have been regulated and capped even in the private hospitals.

Noting the aforesaid submissions, the Court directed the authorities under the Delhi Government to treat the plea as a representation and decide it in accordance with law and policies in place.

Title: SHIVLEEN PASRICHA v. STATE (NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI) & ANR.

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