Policy To Provide Priority Treatment To COVID Warrior: P&H High Court Seeks Response Of Punjab Govt. & UOI

The Punjab & Haryana High Court on Friday (April 30) issued notice to the Punjab State Government and Government Of India seeking a response as to whether there is any policy/instructions of the Government of India or State Government for providing any priority of treatment for the COVID – 19 warriorS or not

The direction to this effect has been given by the Bench of Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri in connection with a petition filed against the Union of India and other respondents by one Chanchal Singh through counsel Salil Dev Singh Bali.

It was submitted by the petitioner's Counsel that the petitioner is a COVID -19 warrior who acquired the kidney disease when he was posted in the laboratory after the onset of the COVID – 19 epidemic.

It was further submitted that although the petitioner had been enrolled in the list of kidney transplant patients by the PGI, however, according to the counsel for the petitioner, the same was not in consonance with the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Rules, 2014.

It was further argued that being a COVID – 19 warrior, the petitioner ought to have been given priority as compared to other patients.

Consequently, issuing the notice, the Court directed,

"Learned counsel for respondent No.1 – Union of India as well as Mr.Pankaj Gupta, Addl. A.G. Punjab, for respondent No.2, shall seek specific instructions as to whether there is any policy/instructions of the Government of India or State Government for providing any priority of treatment for the Covid – 19 warrior or not."

In related news, in a plea seeking ex gratia payment of Rs.50 lakhs, in terms of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: Insurance scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19, and Rs.1 crore, in terms of the scheme of the GNCTD, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday (20th April) issued notice to the Union of India and Delhi Government.

The Bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh was hearing the plea of one Sangeeta Wahi who lost her husband, who was deployed by the Government to perform an essential service as a guard at the OPD, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi.

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