Delhi High Court denies making request for 5-Star CoVID facility; Kejriwal Government blames it on “Mischievous Media”

The Division Bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi & Justice Rekha Palli has taken a suo moto cognisance of Govt of NCT of Delhi order dated April 25, 2021 as per which 100 rooms of Ashoka Hotel were to be used for setting up a CoVID Health Centre facility for High Court judges, other judicial officers & their families & has directed the GNCTD to withdraw the order & file an affidavit in this aspect.

“What the projection is that we have done this for ourselves. You only want to appease us. We never made such a request”, Justice Sanghi remarked. 

To this, Justice Rekha Palli added as to what did the Govt want to convey by passing such orders. 

“What do you want to convey by passing such orders?”, Justice Rekha Palli 

Sr Advocate Rahul Mehra for GNCTD: This is not only one aspect. Entire hospitals in Aerocity have been converted for such context.

“Can we as an institution say that you create a special facility for us? People are not getting beds & would we say that you should reserve hospitals in 5 star hospitals.”, Justice Sanghi remarked. 

Mehra in the context of Justice Sanghi’s remarks submitted that there could be many projections to which Justice Sanghi replied that the Media was not wrong, but the order was wrong.

Sr Adv Rahul Mehra for GNCTD: There are many projections.

Justice Sanghi: The media is not wrong. The order is wrong. 

Sr Adv Rahul Mehra for GNCTD: SCBA had also written to CJI to convert the new building for law officers. The intention is good intention & not malafide intention.

The suo moto cognisance has been taken in light of the order as per which linked private hospitals have been directed to admit positive patients in their extended CoVID hospitals as per the patient’s medical condition & further directed for transferring/ admitting the patients who turned severe at any point of time during their stay in the hotel at its scheduled rates. Primus Hospital has been further directed to provide the Ambulance for transfer facility.

“The hotel shall provide regular hotel services including rooms, housekeeping, disinfection and food for the patients etc. at a price not greater than ₹5,000 for five star hotel and ₹4,000 for four/three star hotel per day per person.” the circular also said.

The circular further said that Bio medical waste disposal would be the Hospital's responsibility & that Primus Hospital would provide for staff in case of shortage.

“All services including rooms, housekeeping, disinfection & food for the patients etc shall be provided by the hotel & Primus Hospital may accommodate their doctors, nurses & other paramedical staff at their own expenses after deciding the rates mutually”, the circular further stated. 

The matter will now be heard on April 29, 2021. 

Case Title: Court On Its Own Motion Vs. Govt Of NCT (GNCTD) & Ors| W.P.(C) 5043/2021