[Coronavirus] Intervention Application filed in Karnataka HC against Jubilant Generics for negligence after employees test positive

An intervention application has been filed before the Karnataka High Court against pharmaceutical company Jubilant Generics Limited, on grounds of negligence in protecting its employees from the COVID-19 pandemic..It has been alleged that the company's negligence has caused the spread of Coronavirus in Mysuru and other parts of the state..The application states,."The Petitioner respectfully submits that due to careless/negligent handling of hesitation by the Owner of said Company the COVID-19 had spread to various parts of the Mysuru District as well as other parts of the Karnataka State and it is the case of person who first tested positive patient No.52 the said disease has spread to others and the also the fact that he has not travelled abroad or indirect contact with any COVID-19 patients."Plea filed against Jubilant Generics Limited.The IA also calls for an investigation by the authorities into the matter and action against the company. The IA further submits that several of the company's workers have contracted COVID-19 in the past four weeks, and more than 1,200 workers are in quarantine. .It is pointed out that in March 2020, an air conditioned container truck carrying medicines had come from China to Jubilant Generic Company in Nanjangud, Karnataka, and that this may be the root cause for the spread of COVID-19 in Mysuru District. .The IA also informs the Court that the owner of Jubilant Generics has not been questioned by any of the authorities, including the Health Department. .On the above grounds, the intervenor urges the High Court to direct the respective authorities to look into the issue and to take suitable action against the wrongdoers..The above IA was filed in a petition that seeks to provide sufficient relief and monetary compensation to those COVID-19 affected people in Karnataka who were asked not to leave their homes even though they had not travelled abroad and were not in direct contact with COVID-19 patients. [Geetha Mishra vs Union of India and others].This petition submits that the reason for the worsening of the situation was negligence on the part of the Karnataka Health Department. ."The Petitioner respectfully submits that due to the negligence on the part of the Health Department in Karnataka knowing fully well that the WHO had declared the COVID-19 as pandemic which spread over across India those people were allowed to stay at Home under Home Quarantine contrary to WHO’s Room Quarantine or to be kept in Isolation.".Further, the petition points out that that as per WHO guidelines, those people who returned from abroad and landed at various airports in Karnataka should have ideally been quarantined either in their apartments or in isolation hospitals near the airports for a period of 14 days from the date of their landing. .As an interim prayer, the plea seeks a direction to the state to provide sufficient number of ventilators and other health related equipment, as well as sufficient food and shelter to the poor and needy including construction workers in the state..Advocate G RMohan will appear for the petitioners in the matter. The matter will be heard on April 13. .[Read the petition and IA here]