HYDERABAD: Wondering who took the decision to block ambulances, carrying patients to be admitted to hospitals in Hyderabad, at the state border, the Telangana high court on Tuesday directed police not to prevent entry of such vehicles.
Terming the action as contrary to the Right to Life, a bench of chief justice Hima Kohli and justice B Vijaysen Reddy said the state was free to issue statements asking people not to come to its hospitals because they were already full. “You can issue such an advisory to prevent people from thronging to your hospitals, but you can’t do the same through border blockades,” it said.
Terming the action as contrary to the Right to Life, a bench of chief justice Hima Kohli and justice B Vijaysen Reddy said the state was free to issue statements asking people not to come to its hospitals because they were already full. “You can issue such an advisory to prevent people from thronging to your hospitals, but you can’t do the same through border blockades,” it said.
Times View
At a time when hundreds are perishing from the killer virus, inter-state borders should be open and fluid when it comes to treating a patient. Any delay can be fatal and the difference between a few hours or in some cases even minutes lost or gained can be the difference between life and death. The HC is right in its view.
The bench advanced the hearing in Covid-19 batch cases from May 13 to Tuesday and reviewed the situation. It didn’t agree with the contention that the state was conducting checks at borders only to ensure those who had pre-booked their space at Hyderabad hospitals alone enter the state.
