On Wednesday, the High Court of Delhi asked the Govt of Delhi to file a status report explaining the steps it has taken to control the COVID-19 pandemic observing a surge in the number of infections in the last 2 weeks.
During the hearing, a bench of Justices Hima Kohli & Subramonium Prasad slammed the Delhi Govt on relaxing the norms for public gathering & transport instead of tightening them when Coronavirus infections was scaling new heights.
The number of mounting cases doesn't support the submission of Delhi Govt that they are taking measures to control the situations, the bench noted.
The Delhi Govt told the court that it is taking measures to urgently control the situation & it has also ramped up testing.
The bench noted that on November 10, approximately 8,593 COVID-19 cases were reported, & said the infections has become rapid & "no household has been left untouched."
The Court remarked that the bench has thought the Delhi Govt would have taken immediate corrective steps & planned a strategy to contain the infections, but contrary to that, it has relaxed the norms.
The Bench said that "It has been noticed that Delhi Government has relaxing the norms of the movement by the public even in such a situation. It is apparent from the fact that as against capping of 100 people in ceremonies, the number of guest have been increased to 200. Similarly, as against permission to occupied alternate seats in public transports, Delhi Government has now permitted public transports to be fully occupied".
The Court also mentioned photos being shared on social media highlighting crowds in the streets of the national capital. The bench said that during this festive season, the public is out in uncontrollable numbers which would have become super spreader of infections.
Noting the claim of the Delhi Govt that the mask should be treated as vaccine till there is some vaccine introduce to contain the infections, the court pointed out silence on introducing any legislation for enforcing of the compulsory wearing of masks in public places.
The bench asked what concrete step has the Delhi Govt taken in light of the alarming COVID-19 infections including managing crowds & adequate arrangements for shifting infected people in care homes.
The Court noted that petitioner Rakesh Malhotra has been infected with the virus & was present in the virtual Court hearing. It observed that Malhotra has to struggle to get admission in nearby private hospitals & nursing homes.
Malhotra, who has managed to get a nursing home due to his critical condition as he is on oxygen support, also shared his grievances with the court that he has failed to get admission in nearby hospitals.
The Court was hearing a plea filed by Malhotra seeking directions to conduct large-scale rapid testing in Delhi for identifying the infected people.
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