DELHI HC REFUSES TO ENTERTAIN PLEA SEEKING SEPARATE COVID TESTING FACILITY IN COURT COMPLEXES

The Delhi HC on Friday has refused to entertain a Plea seeking directions for provision of COVID-19 testing facilities for advocates, judicial officers, court staff and their family members in all court premises in Delhi.

A division bench of Chief Justice D. N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan has asked the Delhi government to decide the Petitioner’s representation as expeditiously as possible and practicable.

The Public Interest Petition was filed by advocate Vishesh Verma seeking setting up of testing labs and sample collection facilities inside all court premises in the city. The Petitioner also informed the court that a representation has been made in this regard to the Delhi government but no action has been taken on it.

During the hearing, the Petitioner contended that after health professionals and Police, Lawyers have maximum public dealing, and therefore, such facilities are required inside the court premises.

The court asked the Petitioner if lawyers have more public dealing than chemists, railway staff and grocers, to which the Petitioner responded in affirmative.

The court didn’t agree with the Petitioner and stated that lawyers can use the labs and sample collection facilities already in existence.

By Shubhi Singhal of LCD