Nisha Ghosal
The Telangana HC has issued a “Contempt Notice” in opposition to the Director of Public Health and Family Welfare, Dr. G. Srinivas Rao, for deliberately mishandling over not increasing the COVID-19 test after the strict order.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy issued the “Contempt Notice.”
The bench was hearing around 20 PILs about Coronavirus.
As per the order of the High Court earlier given, the Director had not taken up 50,000 tests from 19-25 November apart from one lakh tests once every week.
But, the Director’s report said, “The number of tests will be increased to 50,000 per day and one lakh once this week as and when the demand arises”.
The Chief Justice observed:
“The more number of tests you carry out, the more positive Coronavirus cases can be discovered in the state.
However, less number of tests will result in less positive cases. The government is purposefully keeping the number of tests at the lowest ebb and this court, with an intention of precaution, reminds that more tests be conducted.
But the state seems ill-prepared in tackling the Second Wave of Coronavirus.”
The bench further stated,:
“So far, in six months, action has been taken against only two hospitals. Why was no action taken against other corporate hospitals when the number of complaints against Yashoda Hospitals was 33, Sunshine Hospital 14, Care Hospital 10, KIMS 10, Medicover 8, and Virinchi 14?
Out of 122 pending grievances, three-fourths are against these hospitals. If you do not take action, we are not going to keep quiet.”
The court was adjourned to December 17, 2020, and stated to produce the report by December 15.