No Application For Condonation of Delay, Delhi HC Imposes Costs Of ₹25k Which Should Be Used For Purchasing PPE Kits For Frontline Workers [Read Order]

The Single Bench of Justice Najmi Waziri has directed that the costs of ₹25,000 should be expended towards providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE kits) which shall be given half each to i) the Junior Resident Doctors and ii) Senior Resident Doctors of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP Hospital) where testing and treatment facilities for COVID-19 patients is being carried out, so as to provide some protection to the medical staff/healthcare workers engaged in combating the pandemic.

The order has come in a writ petition filed by Mr Krishan Singh Yadav, wherein the NDMC was earlier directed to submit a counter affidavit in response to the averments made in the petition.

Despite the period two weeks granted by the court by an order dated 05/06/20, the Respondent failed to file the counter affidavit in time. Moreover, it did not move any application seeking condonation for delay.

While imposing the costs, the court noted that:

'In view of the global pandemic, resulting in the countrywide lockdown, there is constant apprehension of contracting the disease from anyone. It is the need of the hour that those engaged in the frontlines of dealing with the pandemic and the resultant casualties are provided protective gear.'

The court further directed the Respondent Corporation to bring the counter affidavit before the next date, failing which further cost will be imposed.

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