Telangana: HC remarks have affected morale of health workers

HYDERABAD: In an unprecedented move, the Telangana government on Tuesday issued an official statement saying that officers were demoralised because of the caustic remarks of the high court over the manner in which the novel coronavirus crisis was being handled in the state.
The statement, issued by the Telangana chief minister’s office (CMO) said that some officers, who attended the Covid-19 review meeting with chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday, said that the remarks were demoralising officials, doctors and health workers who were risking their lives during the pandemic.
“The court is summoning senior officials, supervising the Covid 19 measures including chief secretary, health secretary, hospital superintendents, to attend hearings,” the statement read. “This is forcing them to spend their precious time attending the hearings leaving their works at the critical time. The comments by the HC pain us despite the fact that the state government is doing everything to contain the spread of the virus.”
The CM directed the officials to submit a factual report to the HC on the measures being taken by the government in the form of an affidavit. While hearing a number of PILs on Covid-19 situation in the state over the past couple of months, the HC expressed concern over low testing in the state and not enough information being provided in the daily bulletins. The judges have also been upset over availability of beds in hospitals.
The court on Monday summoned the chief secretary, public health director and Greater Hyderabad municipal commissioner for a hearing on July 28.
Earlier, a PIL had asked for Covid-19 tests on all those who die during the pandemic and the HC had given orders to do so, but the Supreme Court dismissed the order.
The statement also said that some media houses were publishing articles based on the court’s comments as if the state government was doing nothing which was demoralising doctors, health workers and officials.