HC seeks report from Centre, Delhi government on dengue

Amid rising cases of dengue in the national capital, the Delhi High Court on Thursday sought status report from the central and Delhi governments on the steps they have taken to control the mosquito-borne tropical disease.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath said it was a serious issue and also impleaded civic agencies as parties in the case.

The court issued notice to the Centre, Delhi government, Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and sought their response by September 24.

"Issue notice to Centre, Delhi government. File status report explaining the steps already taken by them. File short affidavit within two weeks," said the court.

Delhi government's senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra told the court that "government is on pro-active mode" and has been taking adequate steps to treat dengue patients.

"We have taken many steps. We have added 1,000 beds and planning to increase more beds in private hospitals. We are concerned for the citizens," Mehra told the bench.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a law student Gauri Grover seeking registration of FIRs against directors of hospitals which denied treatment to a child who died of dengue and his parents later committed suicide.

However, the bench refrained from ordering lodging of an FIR and asked Grover's counsel Satya Ranjan Swain to file additional documents relating to the negligence.

Dengue has claimed the lives of at least 16 people so far but the official toll is placed at five.

Delhi's civic bodies have so far confirmed only five dengue deaths in the capital and the number of cases as 1,872.