The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday reprimanded the State government over its handling of the COVID-19 situation. It said that the State was trying to paint a rosy picture while the reality was different.
A Division Bench, while hearing a suo motu public interest litigation, noted that people were dying outside hospitals as there were no doctors to attend the patients and the entire system lacked “transparency.”
The Bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Bhargav Karia noted that a lockdown was not a solution since it would affect the livelihood of poor. However, it asked the State to take steps to curb the spread of COVID-19, while also advising people to go out unless absolutely necessary.
“We are not saying that the government is not doing anything, but the manner in which it is being done is not satisfactory, not transparent, and therefore all these problems are arising,” the Bench held, adding, “If you had a more practical, thoughtful and a more meaningful system of working, there would be much less of a crisis.”
“These untimely deaths or unfortunate deaths that are taking place outside hospitals because of non-attendance by doctors should not happen,” the court told Advocate General Kamal Trivedi, who contended that the State was taking all measures amidst a challenging situation.
In an online hearing that lasted over two hours, the court raised the question of government and designated COVID-19 hospitals in Ahmedabad only attending to patients brought in EMRI (Emergency Management and Research Institute) ‘108’ ambulances and ignoring those brought in private vehicles.
The court said a doctor cannot refuse to attend to a patient who has not come in a ‘108’ ambulance. “Why doesn’t the government issue directions to corporations all over the State, to government hospitals and designated hospitals that whenever a patient arrives, he has to be attended to. A patient attended to would be mentally satisfied that immediate care has been taken,” the Bench said.
The court asked the Advocate General to inform the State government that there will be further surge in the cases and that it must be prepared to tackle the challenge.
“What is going to happen on May 1 when the number of patients doubles? Every day there is an increase. Are you ready for it? What are the steps you are going to take?” the Bench asked.
Posting the matter for further hearing on May 4, the court asked the State government to file a detailed affidavit on the questions raised.
