Ensure Installation Of CCTV Cameras In Covid Dedicated Hospitals, Make Available Footage To Expert Committee For Periodic Observations: HP HC Directs State

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the State Government to comply with the directions of the Supreme Court 's last year order by ensuring that the CCTV cameras are installed inside the covid dedicated hospitals and also to make available the footage to the respective Expert Committee for period observations for dealing with the covid 19 situation.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice L Narayana Swamy and Justice Anoop Chitkara ordered thus:

"State Government is directed to comply with the directions issued by the Hon'ble apex Court in order to make available the footage to the Expert Committee for stepping up or ramping up the situation, wherever it is not installed. Wherever the CCTV cameras are installed, it is to be ascertained whether the same are functioning and in case it is functioning, CCTV footages periodically be placed before the Expert's Committee/Expert Bodies to make observations periodically."

The development came after Senior Advocate BN Misra appearing for the petitioner apprised the Court about the ordered delivered by the Apex Court in the case of "In Re : The Proper Treatment Of Covid 19 Patients And Dignified Handling Of Dead Bodies In The Hospitals Etc." and submitted that as per the said directions, all the State Governments were directed to constitute Expert Committees for supervising the conditions and functioning of covid dedicated hospitals in the State.

According to the Supreme Court's order dated June 19, 2020, it was directed thus:

"We further direct that all States shall also constitute an expert team of Doctors and other experts for inspection, supervision and guidance of Government hospitals and other hospitals dedicated to Covid-19 in each State who may inspect, supervise the hospitals in the State and issue necessary directions for the improvement to the concerned hospital and report to the Government. Chief Secretary of each State shall ensure that such Committees are immediately constituted and start their works within a period of seven days."

On the aforesaid submission, the Senior AAG appearing for the State assured the Court to look into the matter and also submitted that in case the Expert Committee has not yet been constituted, then it would be constituted at the earliest.

Hearing, this, the Court ordered thus:

"If the Expert Committee is already constituted, it is directed that the State Government should look into the judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court with regard to constitution of the Expert Committee as per the directions contained therein."

On the aspect of installation of CCTV cameras, the Supreme Court had directed further:

"The Chief Secretaries of other States shall also take steps regarding installation of CCTV Cameras in Covid dedicated hospitals where Covid patients are taking treatment to facilitate the management of such patients and for the screening of the footage by designated authorities or bodies so that remedial action may be suggested and ensured."

The senior counsel appearing for the petitioner also stated that the CCTV cameras footage be made available to the Expert Committee/Expert Body to review the situation.

With the directions to place the CCTV footage before the State's expert committee for periodic observations, the Court also directed the State to comply with the directions of the Supreme Court.

The matter will now be heard on June 16.

During the previous course of hearing, observing that the situation may go out of control of the Government if RTPCR testing is not conducted in war footing, the Court had directed State Government to inform about the steps taken it to convert primary health centres into ICU Hospitals with oxygen facilities and also directed it to accelerate its work in combating covid 19 pandemic.

"If the RTPCR tests are not conducted in war footing i.e. more than twenty to thirty thousands per day then the fatalities will proportionately go higher and by the time the RTPCR test is conducted, the incubation period will exceed and that may go out of control of the Government." Court ordered.

Earlier, the Court had noted that there was acute medical crisis in the State of Himachal Pradesh due to sudden surge and spread of COVID-19, which has engulfed not only the urban areas but has also reached the villages. In view of this, the Court had issued slew of directions to the respondent authorities.

Title: Court on its own motion CWPIL No.3 of 2020

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