Gujarat HC takes suo motu cognisance of precarious health situation in state following COVID-19 spike; tells top officers to watch court proceedings

THE Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court Sunday took suo motu cognisance of media reports showing the harrowing tales of COVID-19 patients, the collapsing public health system, the shortfall in testing and shortages of beds, ICU, as well as the supply of oxygen and basic medicines like Remdesivir, etc, in view of the spike in Covid19 case in the state.

CJ Vikram Nath said media reports would indicate that the state was heading towards a health emergency of sorts.

“Had it been stray news here and there, I could have ignored it but the volume of report in the leading newspapers having nationwide circulation cannot be ignored. It is time that the court must intervene”, CJ Nath said.

He ordered the registry to implead the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretay (Medical Health) and Union of India in the suo motu case.

CJ Nath also asked the Advocate General to inform the top bureaucrats of the state to watch the proceedings, subject to their convenience, especially those impleaded in the petition, tomorrow at 11 am when the case will be heard.

Read the Order

http://theleaflet.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/RWPPIL532021_GJHC240214472021_1_11042021.pdf