Plea Against Overcharging For Ambulance Service, Cremations Amid Covid-19: Delhi High Court Asks Govt To Consider Representation

A Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh passed the order on a PIL filed by NGO Distress Management Collective. The Court directed the Government to consider the PIL as a representation.

The plea filed through Advocates Robin Raju, MP Srivignesh and Deepa Joseph alleged that there is a growing practice of charging unreasonable amount for cremations of Covid-19 victims.

"It is distressful to note that the charges levied are manifold times for more than what was levied for cremations and burials during normal times," the plea stated.

It also drew the Court's attention towards unjustified fare charged by ambulance service providers across Delhi for even short distances and urged that a distance-based rate chart be prescribed for ambulance service providers.

"The growing incidents of extorting money from hapless people by many essential service providers in Delhi and the sudden spike in matter of days indicate that there is a need for stringent measures to control the charges and bring it back to the times pre-covid times," the Petitioner-organization urged.

It was argued that the malpractice of undue profiteering in these difficult times aggravates the financial burden of the ordinary citizen and thereby hinders his right to life, liberty and livelihood under Article 21 of the Constitution.

In related news, the Telangana High Court recently took exception to the mess that the families of victims of Covid-19 are being made to undergo for cremation of their loved ones.

"Even in death, human bodies are not being treated with the dignity they deserve" observed a Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy on being informed that ambulances, that are otherwise available free of cost, are "ripping the public" by demanding illegal gratification for transportation of COVID-l9 infected patients from their homes to hospitals or from hospitals to homes.

Also Read: Plea Filed In Delhi High Court Seeking Directions For Dignified Cremation/ Burial Of Covid-19 Victims

Click Here To Download Petition

Read Petition