Kriti Agrawal
The Telangana High Court slammed the police and the state government, saying they were painting a rosy image of coronavirus under control when the ground truth is totally different.
A Bench of Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy ordered the Police Commissioners of Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Rachakonda, Anjani Kumar, V.C. Sajjanar, and Mahesh Bhagwat, to “Get your heads together” and inform the Court by 2.30 p.m. about their plans to combat the spread of covid-19. The Police Commissioners were practically present at the trial.
The Bench had planned to hear a batch of Public Interest Litigation petitions on covid-19 on Thursday, but moved the hearing to Tuesday after learning of the dire condition people were in as a result of the second wave of the pandemic.
Concerned about police failing to search religious congregations in various parts of the state capital, the CJ stated that the “Heads of the officers would roll if Court orders on measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus were not followed. In reference to lower testing and positive proceedings. The government was attempting to paint a rosy picture and persuade the Court that all was hunky-dory.”
The Bench reiterated its previous instructions to the State government to consider extending night curfew hours and weekend lockdown.
Soon after the High Court issued its orders, officials held a press conference in which they said that people can be safe inside their homes.