The Delhi High Court has taken suo moto notice of the Delhi government order assigning 100 rooms at Ashoka Hotel as a Covid Health Centre facility for the Judges and Judicial Officers of the High Court and their family members.
According to this order, “The charges shall be collected by hospital and the hospital shall make the payment to the hotel. Primus Hospital may accommodate their doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff at their own expenses after deciding the rates mutually.”
In response to this, the HC bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli observed, “It appears that the GNCTD, on its own, has proceeded to issue the order dated 25.04.2021 purporting to set up and set aside 100 room at Ashoka Hotel, New Delhi for creation of a CHC for the use of the Judges of this Court and other Judicial Officers of Delhi, placing them at the disposal of Primus Hospital, Chanakyapuri.”
The Court confirmed through its Registrar General that no such request was made by the court to the government to set up Covid facility for its staff and Judges at any hotel. The court thus issued notice to the Delhi government as well as Geeta Grover, Incident Commander/SDM, Sub Division Chanakyapuri, who issued the said order on April 25.
“It’s unthinkable that we as an institution will want any preferential treatment,” the Bench said. The bench directed that this suo moto cognisance be registered as a public interest litigation and be placed before the bench of the Chief Justice.
The order may be read here:
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