Supreme Court gives its nod to set up COVID facility in its complex

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 29

The Supreme Court Administration on Thursday gave its ‘in-principle’ concurrence to the Supreme Court Bar Association’s initiative for setting up of temporary in-patient facility for COVID19 patients in the top court’s complex.

“The Administration has made it clear that the Staff of Supreme Court Registry will not be associated with the proposed facility and it is for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) to decide as to how to operate the facility,” the SC said in a release.

“If the GNCTD, based on its own assessment, comes forward to set up the facility at the location proposed and as per the duly approved blue print, the Supreme Court Administration may consider handing over the space to the concerned Authority of GNCTD in accordance with COVID protocol,” it said.

Considering the “grim situation”, SCBA president Vikas Singh had last week written to CJI NV Ramana and other senior judges demanding opening of a COVID19 care centre in the new chamber building of the Supreme Court.

Singh had also urged them to convert the newly constructed advocates chamber building to a COVID19 care centre for lawyers, court staff and their families affected by the pandemic.

SCBA had pointed out that its members were suffering due to the pandemic and many of its members have died in the last few days.

The place will now be used for establishing medical facilities for at least 60 beds and other facilities such as RT-PCR tests and COVI19 vaccination.

Singh said, “GNCT Delhi has inspected the premise but has expressed inability to provide any infrastructure for the purpose. They, however, have found the place feasible to start a COVID care facility.”

He said, “They do not-have spare manpower and they are not in a position to supply the hardware also. Hence we have requested Medanta.”