Delhi HC
Never asked for Covid facility at 5-Star hotel: Delhi High Court raps Arvind Kejriwal govt
New Delhi/IBNS: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Arvind Kejriwal government to immediately withdraw its order of assigning 100 rooms at Ashoka Hotel for judges claiming that it never asked for Covid facilities at 5-Star hotels.
"When did we ask for a 100-bed facility at a five-star hotel? We had only said if a judicial officer or a judge or their family is infected, they should get hospital admission. Our concern is with respect to judicial officers in lower judiciary who have to hold court. We have already lost two judicial officers," a furious judges' panel told the Delhi government.
"Why did you cause this sort of a controversy? The perception is that we asked Delhi Government for a special facility. Or that you did it to appease us. You did everything on paper," said the judges.
The Delhi government responded that there was no malice behind the move and it was the media that created such a perception that judges wanted a special Covid facility for themselves.
The court instead said the media is not wrong and it is the order which is wrong.
"Can you imagine that we can ask for something like this. People are not getting hospitals and we are asking you for beds in luxury hotels. Media is not wrong. Your order is wrong," the High Court said.
"It is beyond thinking that as an institution we will ask for the facility. How can you give facilities to one section? It would be better that you withdraw these orders immediately."
The Delhi government agreed to immediately withdraw the order.
On Monday evening, Chanakyapuri sub-divisional magistrate Geeta Grover had said in an order that 100 rooms at the Ashoka Hotel would be converted into Covid rooms for judges, judicial officers and their families.
"The biomedical waste disposal will be the responsibility of the hospital. The staff of hotel shall be provided all protective gear and given basic adequate training. Ambulance for transfer facility will be provided by Primus Hospital," the order said.
"For any shortage of hotel staff, the same will be provided by the hospital. All the services including rooms, housekeeping, disinfection and food for patients etc shall be provided by the hotel," it added.
The order was met with severe criticism at a time when Covid patients in Delhi are succumbing to the virus on roads or suffering due to the shortage of beds and adequate oxygen.
The second wave of the pandemic has left the health infrastructure in Delhi overwhelmed.
On Monday evening, Delhi reported the most number of deaths in a day with 380 fatlaities and over 20,000 fresh cases.
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