The Bombay High Court, on May 15, 2020, observed that every possible option needs to be explored by the State Government and the Municipal Corporation; to ensure minimization of people’s suffering caused due to COVID-19. A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice AA Sayed heard the PILs via video conferencing. The PILs alleged that non-COVID patients get denied admission in privates & government-run hospitals; leading to a rise in their suffering and the death toll in several such cases.
Senior Counsel AY Sakhare appeared for MCGM, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh for the Union of India; Government Pleader PH Kantharia for the State. Additionally, Advocate Amit Karkhanis, for some of the private institutions impleaded as respondents; and Advocates Ankit Kulkarni, Gaurav Shrivastava for the petitioners. MCGM’s counsel Senior Advocate AY Sakhare vehemently opposed the allegations; made in the said PILs. He argued that sufficient arrangements had been made for the treatment of non-COVID patients.
The bench noted that despite the initial opposition; Sakhare said that if at all the petitioners’ suggestions are of any worth the Corporation will look into the same. Thus, the Bombay High Court asked the private institutions to make a single set of compilation of all their suggestions by Sunday. The Court directed the institutions to forward the same to the lawyers for the State as well as the Corporation for proper consideration.
