Delhi High Court raises alarm over rising Covid cases, demands testing policy update in 6 weeks

The Delhi High Court has expressed concern over the recent surge in Covid-19 cases and directed the Central government to submit a detailed status report within six weeks on its policy regarding sample collection, transportation, and testing. Calling the pandemic "far from over", the court stressed the need for urgent and systematic follow-up.

The order, issued on May 28, pointed to a lack of updates following a meeting held on May 30, 2023, where the Centre had proposed forming four expert subcommittees. These groups, comprising specialists from Central Government Hospitals, were tasked with establishing standard operating procedures for Covid sample collection, creating collection centres, and framing a storage and transport policy.

While the court acknowledged that the steps proposed may make a contempt petition unnecessary, it voiced concerns about the absence of visible progress. Highlighting “wide reports of Covid-19 being active in the community,” the court insisted that the government place its protocols and action plans on record.

The matter will be heard next on July 18. As of the latest government data, India has 3,961 active Covid-19 cases and 28 deaths, with Delhi alone reporting 294 active cases—underlining the court’s concern that complacency could lead to a wider health crisis.