Inmate Tests Positive For COVID, Lost Eye Due To Black Fungus: Delhi High Court Grants Her Interim Bail

The Delhi High Court on Thursday granted interim bail to an inmate who tested COVID Positive while in the custody and had apparently lost her eye due to black fungus.

The Bench of Justice Mukta Gupta ordered her release on interim bail till 12th July, 2021 on her furnishing a personal bond in the sum of ₹25,000/- with one surety bond of the like amount subject to the satisfaction of the learned Trial Court/ Duty Magistrate.

A medical report of the petitioner had been received from Central Jail Tihar which indicated that when the petitioner complained of generalized weakness on 28th April, 2021, she was tested for COVID and found to be Positive.

Thereafter, she was kept in an isolation ward. However, since she was having difficulty in breathing, she was sent to the Burari Hospital on April 30, 2021 and thereafter to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital on the same day for difficulty in breathing and decreased oxygen saturation.

She was further admitted in GTB Hospital till 10th May, 2021 and was discharged with the diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus II/ Hypertension/ COVID (Moderate)/ Bilateral Pneumonia/ Lower Respiratory Tract infection.

After the discharge, she was kept in isolation for 7 days and was declared COVID free on May 17, 2021, however, during isolation, the petitioner complained of decreased vision in the right eye.

Thus, on May 17, 2021 she was sent to Safdarjung Hospital, Ophthalmology Department where she was advised MRI of brain and orbit besides RTPCR for COVID-19.

The Court recorded that though there were no findings suggestive of Mucormycosis (Black Fungus) in MRI, however, the MRI report was suggestive of right frontal bone Osteoma & diffuse frontal & parietal predominant cerebral atrophy.

Therefore, in view of the fact that from the findings of the MRI report the petitioner would need specialist treatment, this Court deems it fit to grant interim bail to the petitioner till the next date of hearing.

Case title - Meenu Singh v. State of NCT of Delhi

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