[COVID-19 Pandemic] PIL to convert colleges, hostels as makeshift hospitals, isolation wards, migrant labour camps: Madras HC issues notice

The Madras High Court on Friday issued notice in a PIL filed to convert private colleges and their hostels as makeshift treatment and accommodation facilities for migrant labourers and roadside dwellers amid the COVID-19 pandemic..A plea was filed in this regard by Advocate P Suryaprakasam in public interest. It sought a direction from the High Court to the State Health Ministry to immediately notify and convert private colleges and their hostels, as required, as makeshift hospital and isolation wards and to accommodate the migrant workers and road side dwellers to contain the COVID-19 spread..The matter was taken up via video conferencing by a Bench of Justices Dr Vineet Kothari and R Suresh Kumar. Following submissions made by Advocate ML Ravi for the petitioner and Additional Advocate General Arvindh Pandian, the Court issued notice. .The Court also allowed the State to file a counter in the matter within two weeks. .Read the order:.On a related note, a similar plea for using hotels, resorts, and other unoccupied premises as quarantine centres for migrant workers exposed to the threat of the Coronavirus pandemic was on Friday disposed of the Supreme Court. .The Court disposed of the plea after observing that many people were coming up with many ideas to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic, but it cannot hear everyone on this respect. All the same, the Bench had directed that that further suggestions on the issue may be sent to the Solicitor General's office.