HC seeks govt reply on availability of PPEs for docs, nurses & paramedics

Sanjay Sahay | TNN | Apr 4, 2020, 05:00 IST

Ranchi: Expressing concern over the lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the frontline workers, who include doctors, as reported by TOI and other media, the Jharkhand high court on Friday sought a reply from the government with details of the facilities and infrastructural support available for those fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
The move comes following an email by lawyers Indrajit Sinha and Rohan Mazumdar to Chief Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan on March 31 in which they mentioned various media reports on the lack of sufficient PPE for the doctors looking after quarantined persons at Khelgoan quarantine centre and Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences. In the email, the lawyers demanded an immediate supply of PPE to the frontline workers to prevent them from contracting the virus. Consequently, the court converted the email into a PIL and heard the matter through video conference in which all stakeholders appeared online from their residential offices on Friday.
On Thursday, both the lawyers presented their submission before the court and during the hearing on Friday, advocate general Rajiv Ranjan informed the court that there is adequate stock of PPE and it is being provided to the health workers as per protocol. The matter would be heard again on April 7. Registrar general Ambuj Nath said, “The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Ranjan and Justice S N Prasad, asked the state to file a reply on a number of issues, including the infrastructure and equipment provided for fighting the virus, the number of people affected and the number of tests conducted on those with symptoms of the virus. The reply is to be undersigned by the chief secretary and sent via email by April 7.”