Synopsis: On the previous hearing date, the Court was told that a graded de-escalation of the reservation of ICU beds had been suggested by an Expert Committee.
The Delhi High Court today ordered the government of the Aam Aadmi Party to send a status report on the “review” of its decision to reduce COVID-19 patients’ reservations in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds to 60%.
In a petition preferred by the Association of Healthcare Providers (India) challenging the 12th September order passed by the Delhi government on the mandatory reservation of 80% of ICU beds for COVID-19 patients in 33 private hospitals. The order was passed by a vacation bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad.
The Court was told on the previous date of the hearing that the Expert Committee had suggested a graded de-escalation of ICU bed reservations.
The Court had refrained from passing any orders in the case because the government’s decision was awaited. Subsequently, the Delhi government accepted and adopted the recommendations of the Expert Committee. The decision was placed before the court as well.
The vacation bench today decided to place the matter before the roster bench for further consideration in view of the review to take place on January 5.
The matter is next to be heard on January 8.
The Delhi government reservation order was stayed by the Court on 22 September. The stay order was, however, vacated by the Division Bench of the High Court as the COVID-19 situation worsened in the national capital.