Delhi Riots: Health of those staying in relief camp should be the primary focus in the light of COVID-19 pandemic, Delhi HC

Remarking that the primary focus of the authorities should be the health of those staying in a relief camp, particularly in the light of COVID-19 pandemic, the Delhi High Court today directed the Delhi Government to ensure that a team of doctors visits Eidgah Old Mustafaba Camp within 48 hours. (Md Akhtar & Anr vs Govt of NCT of Delhi).The order was passed by a Division Bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonuim Prasad in a petition by two residents of the Eidgah Old Mustafabad Camp..The Petitioners had sought a direction to the Delhi Government to deploy a team of qualified doctirs and public health officials for screening, testing and treatin gthe residents of the camp, especially in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. .Along with the Petitioners and their family members, 600 more people are currently residing in the camp after the riots broke out in the city's north east area last month. .The Petitioners were compelled to appraoch the High Court for urgent relief in view of the poor health and sanitation conditions at the camp. .Besides the spread of COVID-19, the Petiitoners also feared the risk of spreading of other infectious diseases, fungal infection etc. .Delhi Government informed the Court about an order passed by the High Court wherein it was recorded that the Delhi Government, as well as the Central Government, would take steps to address the health and cleanliness problems faced by the people residing in the camps. .Will augment the efforts towards rehabilitating riots victims: Centre, Delhi Govt tell High Court.The Court thus directed the Delhi Government to comply with the order passed in the earlier hearing in a time bound manner. .It directed the Delhi Government to send a team of doctors to the camp within 48 hours. .The primary focus of reposdents/GNCTD should be with regard to the health of all those staying in the Camp site, particularly in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.. It is therefore directed that in the event the respondent/GNCTD has so far not set up any health facility in the Eidgah Old Mustafabad Camp.. for emergency medication, then steps in this regard shall be taken at the earliest, preferably within two days from today. The Govt of NCT of Delhi shall ensure that a team of doctors and public health officails with sufficient medicines, adequate equipments etc. will visit the Camp site within 48 hours.Delhi High Court ordered. .Further noting that with over 600 persons are resding in the Camp, the sanitation condition of the area would also be equal significance for preventing the spread of any communicable diseases, the Court ordered that adquate sanitation workers with equipment shall be deputed at the Camp site, if not already deputed. .The Petition was accordingly disposed of. .The Petitioners were represented by Advocates M Shoeb Alam, Ritesh Dhar and Mojahid Karim Khan..Delhi Govt was represented by Additional Standing Counsel Anuj Aggarwal. .Read the Order: