[COVID19] Delhi High Court seeks Delhi govt response in PIL to treat Public Prosecutors as frontline workers

The Delhi High Court has issued notice in a public interest litigation (PIL) petition to treat public prosecutors and staff of the city's prosecution department as "frontline workers" during the COVID-19 pandemic (Dishank Dhawan v GNCTD)..A Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh sought response from the Delhi government in the petition preferred by Dishank Dhawan, an additional public prosecutor. .The Petitioner ought the declaration on the ground that the public prosecutors and staff of the prosecution department have been working selflessly and exposing themselves to the virus by attend court hearings and visiting jails even during the nationwide lockdown. .It was also highlighted that public prosecutors are involved in maintaining law and order in the country, and facilitating the criminal justice system. .The petitioner submitted that several public prosecutors, including the petitioner himself, staff of the prosecution department and their families tested positive in the second wave. He, therefore, prayed that a dedicated COVID center having at least 100 beds with ICU/ventilator facility be set up for them on an urgent basis.."One Prosecutor, namely Mr. Taufeeq Ahmed, who was posted in Karkardooma Court, East District, Delhi, unfortunately, succumbed to this deadly coronavirus. In this backdrop, it is all the more important to save Public Prosecutors so that the criminal system of our country is not miserably hampered and other officers affected can be given timely treatment. Many other were unable to secure beds in hospitals of Delhi and had to move at far flung places. Some of them include APP Mr. Kamal Akhtar who went to Allahabad for his treatment. APP Mr. Gaurav Pandey is currently in Hapur for treatment. Not only this, a junior Assistant, Suman Saurabh, of Prosecution administration branch, Tis Hazari, office staff of prosecution administration branch also expired on 19.04.2021 due to COVID. APP Mr. Virender Singh was suffering from Covid and was admitted to NKS Hospital, Gulabi Bagh but was discharged due to non-availability of oxygen, and he could not thereafter find a bed in any hospital.", the petition read. .The petitioner further sought a direction to ensure that sufficient medical oxygen and oxygen concentrators be made available for public prosecutors and staff of the prosecution department. .A prayer was also made for the vaccination to public prosecutors and other staff of the prosecution department in a dedicated facility..Senior Advocate KTS Tulsi with Advocate Tanessa Puri argued on behalf on the Petitioner. The petition was filed through advocate Shalabh Gupta. .The matter would be heard next on June 4.