Delhi High Court Calls For Expeditious Appointments In COVID Bed Facility At Indira Gandhi Hospital To Enable Regular Functioning

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday called for expeditious regular appointments to be made in the Covid bed facility at Indira Gandhi Hospital in order to enable it's regular functioning. The Bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Jasmeet Singh was apprised by Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra appearing for Delhi Government that a proposal for additional 1855 posts was rejected by the Administrative Reforms Department of the GNCTD. "We find this rather curious. The additional 1,855 posts are meant to staff huge super specialty hospital set up by GNCTD. The said hospital has to render patient services as well as emergency and super specialty services. Without proper staffing of specialized and qualified personnel, the said facilities cannot function," the Court said. This comes after Mehra in November last year told the Court that for the purpose of staffing, the Lieutenant Governor had approved 1204 posts, whereas the requisition was for 3059 posts. He had also stated that a fresh proposal was again submitted for approval for additional 1855 posts.COVID Bed Facility At Indira Gandhi Hospital: Delhi High Court Expects LG To Take Decision On Approval Of Additional Staffing Posts"Let the relevant file notings in relation to the additional posts and its rejection be placed on record," the Court said at the outset.In the meantime, the Court again directed the Administrative Department of the Delhi Government to re-examine the said proposal keeping in view the fact that the requirement of additional posts is to ensure full staffing in the super specialty hospital so that it can function and provide all facilities and services which are envisaged in the it. "The proposal should also be placed before the Hon'ble LG for his consideration," the Bench added. Perusing the status report filed by the Delhi Government, the Court took note of the tabulation showing the existing manpower details, highlighting that most of the appointments were made on ad hoc or outsourced basis. In response to query of the Court, Mehra submitted that the requisition for appointments was addressed to concerned departments."We hope and expect that the departments shall expedite regular appointments to be made in super specialty hospital in question to enable it's regular functioning," the Court said. The matter will now be heard on April 4. The Court had on previous occasion directed the Delhi Government to file a status report disclosing the completion of tasks in relation to the project of making Covid bed Facility at the Hospital.It had also directed the Delhi Government to file a 'better affidavit' indicating the timeline within which Phase-I and Phase-II super speciality facilities will be set up in the Hospital.The Court had also observed that the availability of super speciality facilities are necessary even for a person undergoing Covid-19 treatment.Earlier, the Court had directed the Principal Secretary of Health of the Delhi Government to personally monitor the progress of the project on a weekly basis and that appropriate disciplinary action must be there for those guilty of any lapse or negligence.It had also ordered the government to give it a timeline as to when the facility will be functional, which the government would bind itself to and non-adherence to which would give rise to consequences.Case Title: DWARKA COURT BAR ASSOCIATION v. STATE (NCT OF DELHI) & ORS.

Delhi High Court Calls For Expeditious Appointments In COVID Bed Facility At Indira Gandhi Hospital To Enable Regular Functioning

Nupur Thapliyal

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