Patna High Court To Decide Viability Of Establishing NGO-Run Covid Care Centres Exclusively For Lawyers

A Division Bench comprising of Justices CS Singh and Mohit Kumar Shah is awaiting a report in this regard, to be submitted by the Head of a technical team deputed by the Central Government for Covid-management in the State.

It may be noted that the Bench was considering certain grievances raised before it relating to lack of adequate infrastructure in the CCCs. A suggestion was made thereof for utilization of the newly constructed building— 'Shatabdi Bhawan' situated adjacent to the High Court campus, as a CCC to accommodate infected lawyers.

Significantly, the State Government did not support the idea on two counts: (i) in case a CCC is established exclusively for lawyers, the same may generate demand for similar facility from other groups of the society; (ii) even otherwise the resources of the State is stretched out and it does not have the manpower to spare for establishing a CCC exclusively for lawyers.

The Advocate General in his capacity as Chairman, Bihar State Bar Council also opposed the said proposal.

Thus, noting that the State shall not provide any assistance to CCC, if established, the Court desired to know from the abovementioned Technical Team as to whether the possibility of providing some infrastructure/manpower by the non-governmental organizations can be explored.

The Head of the Technical Team assured the Court that he will visit the site with the representatives of the NGO and Amicus Curiae and inform the Court accordingly.

The order further states:

"The Court will consider passing necessary orders in this regard on Monday (03.05.2021) after examining the report to be submitted by Dr. Bhadani in this regard. In the meantime it shall also be open for the Ld. members of the Coordination Committee of the three Associations to explore the possibility of establishing a CCC exclusively for lawyers at the Shatabdi Bhavan, at their end."

The matter will be heard today.

In related news, the Patna High Court has issued a Circular directing the concerned health authorities to provide immediate treatment to infected Judicial Officers in the State. It further provides that in case the medical condition of any such officer is serious, then they should be treated at COVID Care Centres (CCCs), Dedicated COVID Health Centres (DCHCs) and Dedicated COVID Hospitals (DCHs), as per prescribed norms.

Case Title: Shivani Kaushik v. Union of India & Ors.

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