Punjab & Haryana HC stops monitoring Covid situation, says second wave showing downward trend

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Read Order: Rishi v. State of Haryana and others 

LE Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 12, 2021: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has disposed of a case whereby it was monitoring the Covid-19 situation in Haryana, Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, saying the second wave of the pandemic is now showing a downward trend.

“Admittedly, second wave in this region has now substantially declined and shown downward trend. We, thus, wish to give quietus to the case,” said a division bench of Justice Rajan Gupta and Justice Karamjit Singh. 

The bench said the matter was originally initiated on a petition filed by a jail inmate, Rishi, who complained that he was not being given proper treatment for Covid-19 in hospital.

“In the meanwhile, however, the disease spread and situation became critical. Vide order dated 25.3.2021, this Court, thus, enlarged the scope of this petition and appointed Rupinder Khosla, Senior Advocate as amicus curiae to assist the Court,” the high court said.

As per the court, various directions were given by it from time to time as the situation demanded. “We are happy to note that the directions were carried out and as per learned amicus curiae, inhabitants of the States under jurisdiction of this Court got much needed relief,” it noted in the order.

“However, before passing the final order, we seek assistance of Advocate General, Haryana to ascertain the antecedents of the applicant whether he has ever espoused any social cause or has a tendency to indulge in frivolous litigation.

“B.R. Mahajan, Advocate General, Haryana, has apprised the Court that the applicant has never espoused any social cause and on the other hand, he is a habitual litigant. In LPA-740-2017, while dismissing his LPA, a Division Bench of this Court has imposed Rs 50,000 as costs on him. A copy of the order is taken on record. However, as we have given a quietus to the main case, we do not wish to pass any further order in the application,” stated the high court.

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