Centre, Delhi govt to reply on steps taken to treat dengue

Voicing concern over the rise of dengue cases in the national capital, the Delhi high court on Thursday asked the Centre and city government to explain the steps they have taken to contain the vector-borne disease.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath also asked the three municipal corporations and New Delhi Municipal Council to explain the steps taken by them to control the disease.

Terming it as a serious issue, the bench issued notice to Centre, Delhi government, municipal corporations and NDMC directing them to file a short affidavit before September 24.

The court, meanwhile, refrained from ordering lodging of an FIR against directors of hospitals which denied treatment to a seven-year-old boy who died of dengue and whose parents subsequently committed suicide.

The plea seeking lodging of FIR was filed by law student Gauri Grover contending that the boy died due to the callous attitude of hospitals.

The court, however, asked the petitioner's counsel Satya Ranjan Swain to produce additional documents showing the specific negligence on the part of hospitals.

The court, which issued notices, said the petitioner should have researched more before filing the present PIL as there were other writ petitions filed earlier in this regard.

Meanwhile, senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra, appearing for Delhi government, informed the court that they have taken adequate steps to treat dengue patients and are also in the process of increasing the number of beds in private hospitals in New Delhi.

The petition has contended that the suicide note left by the parents of the child "clearly establishes that they were prompted to commit suicide due to the callous attitude of hospital authorities which led to death of their only son".

"The act of the hospital authorities clearly falls under section 306 (abetment of suicide) of Indian Penal Code," the petition said.

It sought that the Centre and Delhi government be directed to declare dengue an epidemic and issue necessary directions that no hospital shall refuse to admit dengue patients.