On Thursday, the Delhi High Court has refused to declare the entire Defence Colony as a containment zone.
The Court while dealing with a petition seeking enforcement of strict cluster containment in the zone have passed the order.
The petitioner pointed out that in spite of the presence of COVID-19 cases in Block-C, the Delhi Government had not declared Defence Colony as a containment zone in terms of the guidelines issued by Central Government on May 16.
He also highlighted increasing the number of beds required for COVID-19 patients in hospitals given the rapid rate at which the infection was spreading.
In its submission, the Delhi Government informed the Court that as per the Centre's guidelines, if in a particular colony, one or two houses, or in a particular area within the colony, there is concentration of COVID-19 patients, the whole colony need not be declared as a containment zone.
As per that, the specific lanes in Block-C, Defence Colony where the COVID-19 cases were present, had already been declared as containment zone.
The Court thus ordered:
"In view of the aforesaid arguments canvassed by the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as learned counsel for the respondents and also looking to the fact that affected part of Defence Colony..has already been declared as containment zone, we see no reason to declare the whole Defence Colony as a containment zone."
The Court noted that in terms of the Central Government's guidelines, the geographical delineation of the containment zone was left to the district authorities/ urban local bodies, based on certain criteria.
The Court clarified:
"Nonetheless, if in the future, keeping in mind the applicable guidelines or on advice given by the experts to Delhi Government, if there is need to declare any other part of Defence Colony as a Containment zone, Delhi Government shall do so in accordance with the law."
Updating on the bed availability, the Delhi Government stated that as per the latest figures, 4914 beds out of total 9179 beds were available as on June 9. Adding to it that more than 2000 beds had been taken from the private hospitals for accommodating COVID-19 patients.
Further, a total 569 ventilators were available out of which 315 are being utilised and available, it was informed.
The Court was also informed that pursuant to the order of the Lieutenant Governor, Chairman of State Disaster Management Authority, the availability of beds was also being displayed on electronic Board of every hospital in the city.
The Court thus opined that from the submission, it appears that both the Delhi Government, as well as the Central Government, are aware of the need of more beds and have been dealing with it as well.
The Court therefore ordered:
"We hereby direct the respondents to increase the number of the beds for Covid patients and also try to increase the number of ventilators so that all Covid patients in need can get these facilities."
The Court also instructed the Authorities to keep in mind the suggestion by Petitioner's Counsel to utilize the 'ready to move in' Government flats in the city for putting infrastructure like beds, etc for COVID-19 patients.
The order has been passed by a bench comprising of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan on 11-06-2020.
Read Order Here:
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