Covid-19: Delhi HC directs state govt to deploy doctors, sanitation workers at Mustafabad relief camp

In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi government to deploy a team of qualified doctors and public health officials for the screening, testing and treating of residents of the Eidgah Mustafabad relief camp within 48 hours in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The court also directed the government to ensure sanitation workers are assigned to the camp to keep up the hygiene of the camp and its adjoining areas so as to prevent the spread of any communicable disease.

The order was passed by a Division Bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonuim Prasad based on a petition by two residents of the Eidgah Mustafabad camp.

The Eidgah Mustafabad relief camp was set up on March 2, 2020, in the aftermath of the orchestrated violence by mostly Hindutva mob in north-east Delhi. Initially, there were about 1,000 persons at the camp, but currently there are about 600 persons. Ever since it was set up, there has been a sanitation crisis at the camp in addition to lack of medical support.

The petitioners said that they feared the spread of Covid-19 at the camp, besides other communicable diseases and fungal infections due to the damp surroundings at the camp.

Additionally, the court directed the state government to provide for a fire engine, ambulance and mobile toilets at the camp. The government has to provide beds for those at the relief camp and it also has to ensure the availability of counsellors for the riot victims, stated the order.

As Mustafabad camp falls under the jurisdiction of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, the Delhi High Court has directed that the order be sent to the Deputy Commissioner of the area.

In its order, the court ordered the setting up of additional camps at Bapu Nagar-25 feet road, Santosh Marriage Home in Mustafabad and at the Madrasa Babul Uloom at Jafarabad.