Delhi HC panel to assess using hotels as makeshift COVID-19 hospitals

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued directions to constitute a committee of doctors, with a request to visit two proposed hotels--Surya Hotel, New Friends Colony and Crown Plaza (Okhla) and give a report on the feasibility of these hotels to be used as extended COVID-19 hospitals.

The court also requested Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS and Dr V.K Paul, Member of the Niti Aayog, to visit the two hotels and give their report.

Justice Navin Chawla passed the above direction on the petition filed by two hotels challenging Delhi government's decision to convert hotels into makeshift hospitals for COVID-19 patients.

During arguments, the petitioner flagged various issues that would arise if the hotels are to be used as COVID-19 hospitals, including the presence of air conditioning, lack of large lifts which are capable of being used for stretchers, lack of bio-waste disposal, as well as measures required to safeguard the hotel staff.

They submitted that the use of these hotels as extended COVID Hospitals would in fact, not be advisable.

While passing its directions, the court stated that "the petitioners (Hotels) shall be entitled to depute one officer each to highlight their concerns to this Committee. Equally, the respondents may also depute its officers who may help the Committee and give their inputs to the said Committee."

"The Committee shall also be entitled to take the assistance of such other persons as may be deemed necessary in this exercise", the court added.

Earlier, the hotels argued that the government's order is "unilateral" and they were not consulted before passing it.

The matter has been adjourned till June 15 and the committee needs to submit a report to the court by June 14.

The Delhi government in an order dated May 29 had asked several hotels to be converted into COVID-19 hospitals.