Karnataka High Court: A Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay S Oka and Aravind Kumar J. gave a slew of directions regarding Chamarrajanagar Incident, Mucormycosis, Vaccination, oxygen supply and food security.
CHAMARAJANAGAR INCIDENT
- The issue of enhancement of compensation to the families of 24 victims of Chamarajanagar hospital tragedy was discussed.
- Amicus Curiae filed a memo giving suggestions on the minimum reasonable compensation which could be sanctioned to the families of 24 victims.
- Advocate General stated that if time of one week is granted, the State Government will consider the suggestions made by the Court and Amicus Curiae.
BLACK FUNGUS (MUCORMYCOSIS)
- There seems to be a very steady rise in the cases of Mucormycosis.
- Circular dated 23rd June 2021 directed all the Government Medical College Hospitals, District Hospitals and Taluk Hospitals to admit and treat Mucormycosis (Black Fungus) cases on priority basis.
- It is directed that the Health Care Facilities in both the Government and the Private shall ensure reservation of sufficient number of beds for admission and treatment of Mucormycosis cases
- It is further directed to ensure that the bed availability and occupancy status are displayed at a prominent place for the information of the public.
The Court directed “to start awareness campaign for making the patients who are infected with COVID-19 aware about the Mucormycosis disease and the nature and the effect of the said disease.”
VACCINATION
- The issue of vaccination to persons with disability with particular reference to persons with benchmark disability or serious disabilities was also discussed.
- About 53% of the persons with disability in the age group of 18 years and above have been vaccinated but the performance of nine districts, when it comes to administering vaccines to persons with disability, is very poor
The Court directed “the State Government to place on record the statistics regarding vaccination of the said category of persons with disability.”
MID-DAY MEAL
- The issue of extending the facility of Mid- Day Meal Scheme during the summer vacation of 2021 was discussed.
- Additional Solicitor General of India stated the Central Government has permitted the State Government to release the necessary amounts. In view of this statement, there is no impediment in the way of the State Government implementing the facility of Mid-Day Meal Scheme for the summer vacation of 2021.
- It was also stated that the Government of India has taken a decision to permit the use of Disability Certificate with photo issued to persons with disability by the Competent Authorities as one of the prescribed photo identity document for the purposes of vaccination.
The Court further directed the State Government to place before the Court the steps taken to set up 28 oxygen plants.
The Court further directed “the state Government to consider setting up of Real Time Data Portal containing real time updates of the data of COVID-19 beds and other particulars across the State.”
[Mohammed Arif Jameel v. Union of India, WP NO. 6435 of 2020, decided on 24-06-2021]
Arunima Bose, Editorial Assistant has reported this brief.