Delhi HC Directs Delhi Govt To Deploy Doctors & Sanitation Workers In Mustafabad Camp For Riot Victims [Read Order]

The Division Bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Subramonium Prasad has ordered the state government to ensure that the said area is provided with doctors, public health officials with sufficient medicines and equipments etc. within a period of 2 days.

The order has come in a petition moved by Md Akhtar, seeking immediate attention of the government to the dangerous health conditions prevailing in the Eidgah Old Mustafabad Camp.

The Petitioner had asked for the deployment of a team of qualified doctors and public health officials for screening, treating and testing the residents of the said camp in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition to this, the Petitioner had asked for a direction to be issued to the Delhi Government to ensure that sanitation workers are deployed in the area for keeping the hygiene of the camp so as to prevent the spread of any communicable disease.

While making his arguments, the Petitioner informed the court that currently the said camp is housing around 600 persons.

'We're fearing the spread of any fungal infection, communicable diseases, or deterioration of health conditions due to the damp surroundings of the camp', he pleaded.

Further, it was highlighted that a team of doctors, who are a part of a not for profit organisation, has noted the appalling state of healthcare facilities in the area.

The petition was taken up by the bench at 2.30 PM on urgent mentioning.

Mr Anuj Aggarwal, Additional Standing Counsel for the Delhi Government, informed the court that a coordinate bench of this court had passed a series of directions by an order dated 20/03/2020, and had next listed the matter for 24/03/2020. These directions are:

1. Provision of a fire engine, ambulance and mobile toilets at the subject camps
2. Maintenance and upkeep of cleanliness (including cleaning of the drains)/hygiene and sanitation; and further enhancing essential public utilities, including provision of beds
3. Taking necessary steps to secure the health of the riot victims
4. Ensuring the availability of the counsellors for the riot victims
5. Setting up of three additional camps in Jaffrabad.

While taking this order into consideration, the court directed the government to comply with the same as the health care and sanitation conditions in the said camp need to be prioritised in light of the COVID 19 pandemic.

The court also directed for the deployment of adequate sanitation workers with proper equipments in the area for ensuring hygiene and curbing the spread of any contagious disease.

Since the camp falls under the area of East Delhi Municipal Corporation, a copy of the order shall also be supplied to them.

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