Delhi faced shortage of hospital beds as the city is facing the third wave of Covid-19, the Government got relief from the HC after being allowed to temporarily reserve 80% of ICU beds for COVID-19 patients in 33 private hospitals. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Private Hospitals opposed the HC order stating that is the seats are reserved the hospital will be forced to keep the beds vacant even in absence of COVID patient and that would hamper other non-COVID patients.
HC bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Subramonium Prasad observed that- “We are of the opinion that in view of the present situation in Delhi where cases of Covid-19 infection are spiraling daily… the interim order ought to be vacated.” HC also questioned the government about liberalizing things when the cases are already rising in the state.
While removing the stay the court also pointed that “given the fact that there has been a sea change in the ground reality when the order was issued by Delhi government, a time when the number of Covid-19 infections in Delhi was hovering around 3,000 to 4,000 patients per day, the said figure has more than doubled as on date, and it was expected of Delhi government to have kept abreast of the situation and monitor the same closely.” The court also pointed out that no person who is suffering from illness shall be forced to run from pillar to post in search of ICU. The matter is listed again for November 26th and allowed the reservation to continue till then
