Declare Strike/Self Isolation Called By 'Contractual Health Employees Federation' As Illegal During Pandemic: Bihar Govt Moves Patna HC

Filing an Interlocutory application before the Patna High Court in a clutch of petitions concerning the COVID situation in the State, the state of Bihar on Thursday sought the declaration of the strike/self-isolation called by the "Bihar State Contractual Health Employees Federation" as illegal during the pandemic period. The Patna High Court on Wednesday issued a slew of directions while observing that the government hospitals, medical officers are duty-bound to extend medical assistance and failure on the part of even private hospitals to provide timely medical treatment to a person in need of such treatment results in a violation of his right to life guaranteed under Article 21. A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S Kumar directed thus: "The affidavit of the Commissioner of the District Buxar and Kaimur with regard to disposal of the bodies found flowing in the river Ganga be positively filed within next two working days." Failure on the part of a government hospital to provide timely medical treatment to a person in need of such treatment results in a violation of his right to life guaranteed under Article 21."