Delhi HC Constitutes Committee of Doctors To Inspect The Feasibility of Converting Certain Hotels Into COVID Facilities [Read Order]

To check whether using these hotels as COVID facilities would have any adverse effect on the staff working therein, the Single Bench of Justice Navin Chawla has asked the said committee to look into the matter and submit a report on or before June 14.

The order has come in a writ petition filed by certain hotels, who have been named by the Delhi as extended COVID hospitals, challenging the feasibility of using their premises for treating COVID patients.

The Petitioners highlighted various issues such as presence of air conditioning, the lack of large lifts which are capable of being used for stretchers, lack of bio-waste disposal, as also the measure to safeguard the hotel work force that may be required by the hotels for providing services stipulated in multiple orders of the Delhi Government.

Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, who appeared for the State, submitted that that these apprehensions are unfounded and looking into the grave nature of the situation that has arisen because of the pandemic, certain drastic measures have been taken by the Government.

In light of these submissions, the court requested Mr. Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS and Dr.V.K. Paul, Member of the Niti Aayog, to visit the two hotels in question and give their report on the advisability/feasibility of using these hotels as extended COVID hospitals.

The court has also entitled the Petitioners to have one Officer each to highlight their concerns to this Committee. Equally, the Respondents may also depute its Officers who may help the Committee and give their inputs to the said Committee.

The court will next take up the matter on June 15.

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