Covid Bed Facility At Indira Gandhi Hospital: Delhi High Court Seeks Timeline For Setting Up Super Specialties

The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to file a 'better affidavit' within two weeks, indicating the timeline within which Phase-I and Phase-II super specialty facilities will be set up in the Indira Gandhi Hospital, a dedicated Covid-19 hospital.

Observing that the availability of super specialty facilities are necessary even for a person undergoing Covid-19 treatment, a division bench comprising of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Jasmeet Singh ordered thus:

"We, therefore, direct the GNCTD to file a better affidavit –indicating the timeline, within which the super specialities enumerated hereinabove, would be set up since, in our view, the setting up of the super specialities would not be at cross purposes with the dedication of the said hospital as an exclusive Covid facility."

The development came after a status report was field by the GNCTD disclosing that the project has four components namely Regular Hospital Services, Super Specialities, Medical College and Mother & Child Facility. The same also disclosed that the hospital will be having 1241 beds, including 169 ICU Beds for Covid management and would also be equipped with Oxygen requirements as a part of preparation of Covid care.

However, the affidavit added that the super speciality facilities will be available in the hospital when it will be declared as a non-Covid hospital.

"Even for treatment of Covid patients, it is essential that the said super specialities are available at the hospitals...Consequently, merely because the said hospital has been declared as a Covid hospital, the setting up of the Super Specialities envisaged in Phase I of the project would not be postponed," the Court responded following which Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for the Delhi Government, withdrew the aforesaid statement on instructions.

The Court also noted that the status report filed by the Government does not indicate as to when Phase II of the project would be implemented, which would include setting up of the Mother & Child Health Block of 484 beds and Medical College with intake of 150 students at UG level.

"So far as Phase II of the project is concerned, the respondents should undertake the exercise of indicating the definite timeline within which the same would be set up. The affidavit be filed within two weeks," the Court ordered.

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 also to said that appropriate disciplinary action must be there for those guilty of any lapse or negligence.

Title: DWARKA COURT BAR ASSOCIATION v. STATE (NCT OF DELHI) & ORS.

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