Supreme Court directs Centre to compile data on hospital fire safety audits in 3 days; States to reply on masks, social distance protocol

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Central government to submit data from all States on fire safety audit within three days..A three-judge Bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Subhash Reddy and MR Shah was hearing the suo motu case concerning fire tragedies in COVID-19 hospitals across the country in the wake of two such incidents in Rajkot and Ahmedabad..[BREAKING] "Shocking": Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of Rajkot hospital fire, seeks response from Gujarat.The Supreme Court also directed that the Ahmedabad fire incident be inquired into by the same Committee that was appointed for inquiring into the Rajkot fire incident. The Centre has been asked to issue directions in this regard. This Committee is headed by retired Justice DA Mehta..Referring to its December 3 order, the Court has also asked States to reply on suggestions to ensure the compliance of its directions to wear masks and adhere to social distancing protocol. This reply should be submitted by the end of the week, the Court said. .During the hearing on Wednesday, Justice MR Shah questioned the Centre regarding the measures adopted to contain such fire tragedies.."What kind of enquiry will be there by a committee who do not know about the incident in detail? You had already constituted such a committee. Now, this is the third committee headed by a retired High Court judge. Look at the attitude. Now another committee," said Justice Shah..Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta responded that he has had a discussion with Home Minister Amit Shah and "steps have been taken."."We have nothing to hide, the truth must come out. Since one Committee (Rajkot) for inquiring into the fire incident at the covid hospital is headed by Justice DA Mehta, the same may be done for the other committee," said SG. .Advocate Aparna Bhat appeared for an intervenor who represents the wife of a person who died in a COVID hospital at Ahmedabad..The case will be taken up for hearing next on December 14..(Read order)