Never asked for 100-bed facility at 5-star hotel for judges: Delhi High Court

By LE Desk

New Delhi, April 28: The Delhi High Court has said it had never asked for Covid facilities at a five-star hotel and ordered the city government to “immediately withdraw” its decision to assign 100 rooms at the hotel Ashoka exclusively for judges and their families.

“When did we ask for a 100-bed facility at a five-star hotel? We had only said if a judicial officer or a judge or their family is infected, they should get hospital admission. Our concern is with respect to judicial officers in lower judiciary who have to hold court. We have already lost two judicial officers,” the High Court, furious, told the Delhi Government yesterday, as reported by NDTV.

“Why did you cause this sort of a controversy? The perception is that we asked Delhi Government for a special facility. Or that you did it to appease us. You did everything on paper,” said the judges, apparently upset at questions raised over luxury Covid facilities set aside for them at a time people are struggling for hospital beds.

The Delhi government said there was no malice behind the move. It was the media that had created the perception, it said, explaining that many hotels in the city had been turned into Covid facilities attached to hospitals.  

But the explanation did not wash with the court.

“Can you imagine that we can ask for something like this. People are not getting hospitals and we are asking you for beds in luxury hotels. Media is not wrong. Your order is wrong,” the High Court said.

“It is beyond thinking that as an institution we will ask for the facility. How can you give facilities to one section? It would be better that you withdraw these orders immediately,” it said.

Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has given directions to cancel the order.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/never-asked-for-100-bed-facility-at-five-star-hotel-for-judges-says-delhi-high-court-2422986