A day after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that hospitals run by the Delhi government and some private hospitals will be reserved for residents of the national capital only, the Lieutenant Governor overruled the decision.
Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal, in an order, directed authorities to ensure that medical treatment to any Covid-19 patient is not denied on the grounds of not being a resident of the national capital. He said that the Supreme Court has invariably held in several successive judgements that 'Right to Health' is an integral part of 'Right to Life' under Article 21 of the Constitution.
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Hours after Baijal's order, Kejriwal hit back at the governor in a tweet saying, "The LG's order has created a huge problem and challenge for the people of Delhi. Providing treatment to people coming from all over the country is a big challenge. Perhaps it is God's will that I serve the people of the entire country. We will try to make arrangements to provide treatment for everyone."
In a second order issues on Monday, the LG overruled the city government's order for coronavirus testing only for symptomatic patients. He said all nine categories people, including asymptomatic, as prescribed by the ICMR should be examined in the national capital.
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The two orders were issued by the Lieutenant Governor in his capacity as the Chairman of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority.
Earlier at an online press conference on Sunday, the chief minister had said, "Over 90 per cent people want Delhi hospitals to treat patients from the national capital during the coronavirus pandemic. Hence, it has been decided that government and private hospitals in Delhi will only treat patients from the national capital,"
The decision drew criticism from both the BJP and the Congress.
