Supreme Court: After the Central Government filed an affidavit orders have been issued to comply the directions issued by the Supreme Court on June 19, 2020 in suo motu petition on proper treatment of COVID-19 patients and dignified handling of dead bodies in the hospitals, the bench of Ashok Bhushan, R. Subhash Reddy and MR Shah, JJ said that
“Mere direction to comply the directions is not enough. The steps taken towards compliance of the directions have to be brought on the record.”
The Court also took note of the facts that the State Governments / UTs have not filed affidavits giving details of compliance of various directions issued by it on June 19, 2020. It was, hence, of the view that the Chief Secretaries of the States have to take steps to ensure that directions are complied with and an appropriate compliance report be filed within 2 weeks.
It also directed the Union of India to file detailed affidavit within two weeks giving the details of the various compliance of the directions issued vide order dated June 19, 2020.
The 3-judge bench of Ashok Bhushan, SK Kaul and MR Shah, JJ had, on June 19, 2020, issued detailed directions in the matter relating to deficiencies, shortcomings and lapses in patient care of Covid-19 in different hospitals in National Capital Territory of Delhi and other States where the Court had taken suo motu cognizance on the basis of media reports and programmes aired in several channels presenting horrific scenes from LNJP hospital, which is a COVID-19 dedicated hospital.
[IN RE THE PROPER TREATMENT OF COVID 19 PATIENTS AND DIGNIFIED HANDLING OF DEAD BODIES IN THE HOSPITALS ETC, 2020 SCC OnLine SC 604, Order dated 27.07.2020]
Read the detailed report on the directions issued on June 19, 2020 here.
SCC Online is now on Telegram and Instagram. Join our channel @scconline on Telegram and @scconline_ on Instagram and stay updated with the latest legal news from within and outside India