The Telangana High Court (HC) once again lashed out at the State Government for several issues including low Novel Coronavirus (Wuhan virus) testing, incomplete data regarding beds availability, RT PCR tests, medication and others.
On the 17th of May, the High Court bench comprising of Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy, bashed the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) for their poor strategy and failure to submit a detailed report, despite being directed.
The Court also asked why the State Health Department is not increasing the number of COVID-19 tests to 1 lakh regularly. The Chief Justice said, even after several directives and hearing, the Health Department is conducting 50,000 to 60,000 tests for the Wuhan virus.
The bench said, “We may note that this court has been persistently harping about enhancing the number of tests, particularly through RT PCR and scaling up the testing to one lakh, but this seems to be falling on deaf ears. While the samples tested on 01.05,2021 were 76,330, the same have dwindled to 57,416 as on 14.05.2021…Testing must be ramped up to get the correct data of the spread of infection. It is but natural that the positivity rate will go down if the testing is reduced.”
The bench also noted that despite asking for a break up of RT-PCR tests and Rapid Antigen Tests, the same was not submitted by the State. Other details such as the number of tests, positivity rate, deaths, beds availability, oxygen stock, medication and others are not submitted in the Court.
The HC bench said, “The state has to ensure that the website is factually correct and only available hospital beds are put up on the official website of the health dept and this should be in sync with reality.”
The Telangana CJ added, “In the second wave of the pandemic, the medical requirements have drastically changed. Doesn’t make sense to exclude PPE kits from the ceiling off of prices. CT scans and several critical blood tests necessary for COVID-19 treatment need to be capped. The State Government is directed to examine the above aspects with all seriousness and then issue a GO in this regard.”
The Court also asked the TRS Government to take the necessary steps towards children orphaned after the death of their parents due to the Wuhan virus. The Court was concerned about illegal adoptions and child trafficking, especially those who has no family after losing parents. The bench directed the Department of Women Development and Child Welfare to submit an affidavit regarding its strategy to deal with the same.
Another major topic discussed during Monday’s court hearing was about teachers infected by the COVID-19 virus, after doing election duty. The Court took cognisance that around 500 teachers deputed to election duty tested positive for the Wuhan virus and needed to be taken care of with proper medication. The bench directed the state to take all necessary steps to provide treatment and benefits to all those who were posted on election duty, including teachers and police personnel.
In addition, the Telangana HC also asked the State Government to prepare a strategy to tackle the third wave of the Wuhan virus.
The Telangana High Court adjourned the hearing to the 1st of June and asked the State Government to be prepared with all the details and affidavit.
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