The Punjab and Haryana HC ordered for having uniform rates for various COVID-19 tests, including the Rapid Antigen Tests and RT-PCR, in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.
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1 Health team collects the swab sample of suspected Covid-19 patients at a health centre in Jalandhar. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh
Chandigarh, May 27
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday ordered for having uniform rates for various Covid-19 tests, including the Rapid Antigen Tests and RT-PCR, in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.
The court’s directives came during a video conference hearing by a Bench of justices Rajan Gupta and Karamjit Singh on the Covid-19 situation in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.
The Bench gave its directions noting that though the respective governments have been taking “appropriate measures” to manage the pandemic, certain issues need its intervention.
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Saurabh Malik
Chandigarh, May 24
Just about three months after the Punjab and Haryana High Court made clear its intent to speed up cases involving sitting and former parliamentarians and legislators of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, it was today told that no less than 191 cases were pending in the two states and the union territory.
Out of the total, 163 cases were pending against sitting and former MPs and MLAs in Punjab. In Haryana, 21 cases, including eight against ex-MLAs of the state and two against ex-MLAs of Himachal Pradesh, are under trial. Three cases registered in Haryana had been transferred to the CBI, Chandigarh. As many as 15 out of the total were pending before the trial courts. Another six cases are pending before the appellate/revisional courts.
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Saurabh Malik
Chandigarh, May 7
The residents of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh appear to be “children of a lesser god”, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asserted before directing the Centre to consider reorientation of oxygen supply for ensuring timely availability to the states for preventing loss of life. Describing the situation as “critical” warranting “immediate attention of the Union of India”, the Bench of Justice Rajan Gupta and Justice Karamjit Singh said the governments must draw a common strategy.
The assertions came after amicus curiae Rupinder Khosla, the Congress-led Punjab Government and BJP-led Haryana Government attacked the Centre for complete disarray following oxygen shortfall. They submitted that instead of satisfying the oxygen requirements from nearby plants, the deficit was being fulfilled by transporting it from far-off places.
Synopsis
On Wednesday, Vij had said 60 oxygen plants will be set up in the state with the support of the central government. According to a government release, the plants will be installed at various government hospitals with bed capacity of 30, 50, 100 and 200.
Agencies
Vij said if an oxygen plant stops functioning due to any reason it can cost lives.
Amid a rise in oxygen demand owing to spiralling COVID-19 cases, Haryana s Home and Health Minister Anil Vij on Friday said control and management of all oxygen generation plants should be handed over to military or paramilitary forces for their safety and smooth functioning.