AI Structured Summary
Not yet generated for this judgment
Judgment
It is submitted on behalf of the State that the figures relied upon by the petitioner have been obtained pursuant to information relayed by the State under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The State says that it may not be accurate to suggest that since all hospitals were geared only for Covid treatment, would-be mothers or mothers with infants-in-arms or neo-natals requiring urgent medical attention were turned away from Government hospitals or health-care centres.
The State suggests that in the wake of the initial surge of the pandemic, between the end of March and July, 2020, it was the fear of the pandemic that may have prevented most people from stepping out and seeking medical assistance where necessary.
However, no break-up on such account has been furnished nor have any figures been indicated as to the availability of hospital beds for delivery cases and the like during the relevant period.
The State should get back with a comprehensive report, backed by figures, when the matter appears next on March 31, 2022. It may also do well for the State to consider some form of package for those cases where lives may have been lost due to want of medical facilities at the relevant point of time.