PIL Filed on Gauhati High Court on COVID Crisis: Dispur Seeks 2 Days

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Responding to a PIL on the ongoing COVID crisis filed at the Gauhati High Court, the learned Advocate General of Assam has sought two days to apprise the Court about the initiatives being taken by the State government.

The PIL (31/2021) filed by Advocates Association for Indigenous Rights of Assamese and One Other raised three issues faced by the people of Assam in the ongoing crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the PIL, the first issue is that some private hospitals, which are admitting COVID patients, are charging exorbitant rates. Their rates must be specified and kept, the petitioner has stated.

The second is that the persons suffering from COVID, particularly in rural areas, must be provided with an Oximeter, and the third is that there must be an online portal by the State which should exhibit on daily basis as to the availability of beds in various hospitals including private hospitals.

During the hearing of the PIL, Chief Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak stated, "D. Saikia, learned Advocate General, Assam appears in this matter and has given a statement that most of these issues are already under active consideration of the State, in fact in some of the decision had already been taken. But in any case, he will apprise this Court as to the measures taken by the State till now or it proposes to undertake on all the aspects raised by the petitioner, for which he seeks two days. Time granted." The date for the hearing is June 8.

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