GUJARAT WILL TAKE A CONSEQUENTIAL STEP TOWARDS A HEALTH EMERGENCY AS A RESULT OF THE RECENT SURGE IN COVID CASES

13th April 2021

Gujarat will take a consequential step towards a health emergency as a result of the recent surge in Covid cases. The Gujarat High Court took suo moto cognizance regarding the rising covid cases, and the matter will be heard in the C.J residence.

The bench had a discourse with the senior-most State Law Officers, Advocate General, and the Government expressing their concern for the rising covid cases in the state. The order issued by the division bench states that the newspaper and media are flooded with harrowing tales of unmanageable shortage of facilities that include testing and the availability of beds, ICU, oxygen supply, and the need for basic medicine, etc. It further stated that it could have been ignored had it been based on stray news, but since it's reported by the leading newspapers circulating nationwide, it should be taken seriously. According to the Indian Express and Times of India, the court states, "A bare perusal of the same would indicate that the State is heading towards a health emergency of sorts."

Looking at this situation, the court must intervene and direct the registry to file the matter as suo moto fresh PIL, titled ' In Re: Uncontrolled Upsurge and Serious Management Issues in COVID Control".

Author: Papiha Ghoshal

PC: Lawstreet