The High Court of Manipur has directed the state government to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to facilitate movement of the attendants who are taking care of patients in regards to supply of essentials, including food to the patients.
Division bench of the high court comprising chief justice Sanjay Kumar and justice Kh Nobin issued the directive on Monday in connection with a PIL filed before the high court, seeking the court's direction to procure sufficient oxygen and ICU beds for COVID-19 patients.
“This court must take note of the fact that a curfew has been imposed in various parts of the state, including Imphal city, and citizens attending to their near and dear ones who are admitted in hospitals due to the pandemic or other medical conditions, are being put to great inconvenience in providing them necessary aid and succour,” the court's order mentioned.
ALSO READ: PIL filed against shortage of oxygen, ICU beds in Manipur
The division bench had also directed the state government to submit the details which has been taken for making available sufficient ICU beds, for maintaining uninterrupted power supply to local oxygen plants and for making the oxygen plants at Thoubal and Churachandpur operational at the earliest, apart from exploring the possibility of installing more oxygen plants.
The court also asked the Central government to indicate as to what effective measures have been taken and are being taken in terms of the order passed by the Supreme Court on May 6 over a Special Leave Petition (Civil) filed in relation to oxygen supplies and concomitant issues.
ALSO READ: Five beds will be reserved for frontline workers: Raj Medicity
The order also mentioned that replies shall be filed before the next date of hearing that is May 18, with advance copies to all the learned counsels appearing in the matter.
The PIL was filed by advocate Naresh Maimom and the respondents are the secretary, ministry of Health and Family Welfare; health secretary of the Manipur government; directorate of Health and Family Welfare, RIMS, JNIMS and MSPDCL.
