Delhi High Court slams Arvind Kejriwal government for relaxing COVID-19 norms

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday, November 11 pulled up the Delhi government for opening up most of the commercial activities and relaxing COVID-19 norms for public movement and gatherings in the city.

Taking strong objection to the government relaxing the norms, a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramanium Prasad asked "What's with the Delhi government allowing all the un-lockdown when the cases are skyrocketing? Why have you opened everything."

The court noted that Covid-19 cases have been on a sharp rise and the situation is getting out of control in Delhi.

The Sero-Surveillance Report-4 filed by the Delhi Government and submitted before the court showed rising cases of infection in several parts of central Delhi. According to the report, the rise in the number of cases is almost two and a half times the earlier Sero-Surveillances done during the months of August and September.

Samples collected between 15 October to 21 October, shows an increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi while the peak is yet to come.

The court also raised concerns on the decision of the Delhi government increasing the capping on gatherings to 200.

nment has continued to relax the norms relating to movement of the public. This is apparent from the fact that as against an order capping 100 guests at marriage ceremonies, the number of guests has been permitted to be increased to 200," the court observed.

The court wasn't happy with seats in public transport being fully occupied.

“Alarming situation where all caution has been thrown to the winds during this festive season and the public is out in uncontrolled numbers, which itself would become a cause for further spread of the infection. On the one hand, citizens of Delhi have been struggling with the COVID-19 infection and on the other hand, the air pollution in the city is adding to their woes. It is a known fact that the COVID-19 virus can survive for a longer duration in pollution and thereby increase the severity of the disease." the High Court added.

Meanwhile, the national capital reported 41,385 active cases and 7,143 deaths in the last 24 hours. While 4,02,854 people have recovered from the infection till now.