APPRISE HC OF STEPS TAKEN BY STATE, SAYS CM

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Tuesday instructed officials of the health department to place before the Telangana High Court the measures taken by the state government to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

He was reviewing the Covid-19 situation with health minister Etala Rajendar, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar and senior officers of the department at Pragathi Bhavan against the backdrop of the High Court expressing displeasure at the state administration over the measures taken to check the pandemic.

Rao told officers to furnish the complete details sought by the High Court and explain the measures taken up for containment of the virus spread, testing and treatment of patients and the precautionary measures being taken. He directed officials to file a detailed affidavit before the court in this regard.

Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office disclosed that during the review the senior officers informed the Chief Minister that as many as 87 public interest litigations had been admitted by the High Court with regard to the Covid-19 issue.

Sources revealed that some of the officers during the meeting pointed out that rather than attending to their work, they were forced to devote more time for court proceedings including preparation of reports and attending the hearings.

Sources said that some officers were reminded that the High Court order of directing the state government to conduct Covid-19 tests on all the deceased following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) had been struck down by the Supreme Court.

Sources said that senior officers expressed concern at some media houses publishing news reports which gave an impression that the state government was doing nothing to fight the Coronavirus which in turn was undermining the morale of the medical staff who are risking their lives.