'Doctors working continuously for seven-eight months, give them breaks': SC to Centre

Supreme Court on Tuesday stated that doctors busy in COVID-19 duty are working continuously and directed Centre to grant m a break after continuous service. While hearing suo moto case in context of improper treatment of COVID-19 patients in hospitals and mishandling of de bodies, a bench heed by Justice Bhushan observed that continuous work might be hampering mental health of doctors involved in COVID-19 duty.

"It has come to our attention that doctors are working without any break. y are doctors, t poppers... You must give m a break after continuous service," bench said.

"For last seven-eight months, doctors have t been given any break and are continuously working. You (Solicitor General) take instruction and think over giving m some break. It must be very painful and might be affecting ir mental health," bench ded.

Responding to bench, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told court that Central government will consider giving some break to doctors.

bench also looked into  affidavit filed by State governments and said that affidavit do t say which hospitals have fire compliances and -objection certificates.

"ne of states have stated number of covid hospitals and wher re is any protocol being followed. Some of m talking about 2016," said Justice MR Shah after which court deferred matter for furr hearing for Friday.

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Cognizance over fire incidents in COVID-19 hospitals

Earlier, top court h sought response from Centre as well as states on issues ranging from hering to COVID-19 guidelines on wearing of face masks and social distancing rms. It h also sought ir responses on fire safety measures in hospitals after incidents of fire in COVID-19 dedicated hospitals.

Apex court h also taken cognizance of  fire incident in a designated COVID-19 hospital in Gujarat's Rajkot in which several patients h died, and court h sought responses from Centre and states over fire safety measures in hospitals after incidents of fire in COVID-19 dedicated hospitals. 

SG Tushar Mehta also spoke about  Gujarat High Court imposing community service mandate for violation of social distancing and mask protocols, followed by Allahab HC. He said government has filed a plea against order. When asked by Justice Bhushan over issue of following COVID-19 guidelines, SG Tushar Mehta said that only fines can be a deterrent and Rs 500 fine is t a deterrent eugh.

bench expressed shock when Mehta said that Gujarat has collected Rs 80 to 90 crores as fine. It remarked that despite imposing fine and collecting a huge sum, government has been unable to enforce COVID-19 guidelines.

(With ANI inputs)

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