Supreme Court gives approval for COVID in-patient facility within court complex, leaves it to Delhi government to operate the facility

The Supreme Court admini has given its green signal to the proposal by Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for setting up of temporary in-patient facility for COVID patients in the Supreme Court Complex..However, the top court made it clear that the staff of Supreme Court Registry will not be associated with the proposed facility and it will be upto the Delhi government to decide on how to operate the facility.."If the GNCTD, based on its own assessment, comes forward to set up the facility at the location proposed and as per the duly approved blue print, the Supreme Court Administration may consider handing over the space to the concerned Authority of GNCTD in accordance with COVID protocol," a press release issued in this regard said. .Supreme Court Bar Association requests CJI NV Ramana to convert new lawyers building as COVID-19 care centre, advance Summer vacation.The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has meanwhile, requested the Medanta hospital in Gurugram to take over the building as a COVID care facility. ."GNCT Delhi has inspected the premise but has expressed inability to provide any infrastructure for the purpose. They however have found the place feasible to start a COVID care facility. They do not-have spare manpower and they are not in a position to supply the hardware also. Hence. we have requested Medanta," SCBA president, Vikas Singh told Bar & Bench. .SCBA had written to Chief Justice of India NV Ramana to convert the newly constructed advocates chamber building at Appu Ghar complex to a COVID-19 care centre for the benefit of lawyers, court staff and their families who are COVID positive..The letter had stated that if the vacant lawyers chamber block in the new premises is allocated to be used as a COVID care centre, then a request can be made to State government to take over the same.The facility can be used by members of SCBA and their families and the registry and staff of the Supreme Court and their families..Later Chief Justice of India NV Ramana met the SCBA members on his first day as the CJI and gave his in-principle approval to the proposal.