'Do something without waiting for court orders': Delhi HC asks Centre, AAP govt to prevent hoarding of COVID-19 medicine

A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli was hearing a PIL seeking directions to them to declare medicines and medical equipment meant for COVID treatment as essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act The Delhi High Court on Monday ordered the Centre and Delhi government to “do something without waiting for orders from the court” to prevent black marketing and hoarding of medicine and medical equipment like oxygen concentrators. The court issued notice to the Union Health Ministry and the Delhi government, represented by additional standing counsel Anuj Aggarwal, on the plea which has also sought setting up of fast track courts to deal exclusively with cases of black marketing and hoarding of medicines and equipment. HC directs Centre to file details of all beds it provided Hospitals in the National Capital are allegedly following a “VIP culture” of allocating beds and therefore, there is a need for a centralised and transparent system to help COVID-19 patients locate a bed, a PIL urged the Delhi High Court on Monday. HC seeks response on plea to safeguard children orphaned by COVID The Delhi High Court has also sought the response of the Centre, the Delhi government, and the Delhi Police on a plea filed seeking directions to safeguard the interest of the children who have lost their parents to COVID-19 and who do not have anyone else to take care of them and face the risk of being trafficked, reports LiveLaw.