"Govt Is Expected To Scrupulously Follow Covid19 Protocol": Delhi High Court On Allegation Of Irresponsible Disposal of Rapid Antigen Test Swabs

The petitioner had specifically alleged that used swabs were being "thrown out in public" and "tests were being carried out over a pile of used swabs for COVID-19" at the district magistrate's office, in blatant disregard of the CPCB's guidelines.

Mehta also alleged that upon complaining about the risk of widespread infection and the irregularity in the disposal of the swabs, the doctor at the counter had said that the swabs were of patients who had tested negative and thus it was safe to "stand over them and get yourself tested."

Hearing the petition filed by lawyer Pankaj Gupta, the Delhi High Court today disposed of the petition with an observation, after the AAP-led Delhi Government informed the court that guidelines for disposal of such test kits are already in place, namely, the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) "Guidelines for Handling, Treatment, and Disposal of Waste Generated during the Treatment/Diagnosis/Quarantine of COVID-19 Patients' issued earlier this year, in July.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan observed that the Government is expected to follow these guidelines, and said, "We expect (of) the respondents (Delhi government) that the guidelines and protocols shall be scrupulously followed by them".

The Government then assured the court that action would be taken against those not following the same.