Former BJP MLA raises concerns over irregularities in Covid management before Karnataka High Court, State Government to respond

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Synopsis

The PIL has been filed alleging that there have been lapses by the Karnataka Government in confronting the Covid-19 cases in the past.

The Karnataka Government has recently informed the Karnataka High Court that they will file a statement of objection against a Public Interest Litigation filed by former BJP MLA Dr Sarvabhouma Bagali in anticipation of the 4th wave of the COVID-19.

Bagali has alleged that the Government has not followed the orders passed by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.

A bench of the Acting Chief Justice and Justice S Vishwajith has allowed four weeks' time for the State Government to file their Statement of Objections.

The PIL has been filed by Bagali alleging that there have been lapses by the Karnataka Government in confronting the Covid-19 cases in the past. Bagali says that he is greatly concerned about the valuable human-life that may be lost and serious torments that may arise due to the negligence of the Government agencies.

Earlier, Advocate Price Isac appearing for Bagali had submitted that the plea has been filed with an object to provide facilities to the Covid-19 patients.

The plea has alleged that the situation of Covid-19 pandemic in Karnataka was grave in January 2022. Though there was a decline in new cases, there is a rise in deaths, it said.

The plea stated that "the World Health Organization has declared surfacing of a new variant of Covid-19 namely XE Variant. According to the WHO, the XE variant is a hybrid of two sub lineages of Omicron- BA.1 and BA 2."

It has been argued that "The clinical management protocol for Covid-19 issued by Government of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Version 3, 13.06.2020 makes it clear that moderate cases have to be monitored by lab diagnosis like C- Reactive Protein, D-dimer and S-Ferretin every 48 to 72 hours, and CBC with differential count, Absolute lymphocyte Count, KFT/LFT daily."

Whereas, the plea stated that after filing an RTI application Bagali had been informed that Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL) and the Government of Karnataka has not procured and supplied diagnostics for basic blood investigations like CRP, D- dimer, S-ferritin, LFT, and KFT to government hospitals in Karnataka. 

Resultantly, the plea sought directions to the State Government to procure the diagnostics such as C-reactive protein, D-dimer, and S-ferritin forthwith and supply the same to all Government Hospitals in Karnataka in compliance with clinical protocol issued by the Government of India.

It is the duty of the State Government to ensure a sufficient supply of mandatory diagnostics gadgets and equipment in all the Hospitals to protect valuable Human Life, the plea added.

Case Title: Dr Sarvabouma Bagali Vs. Union of India & Ors.