New Delhi, Jul 24: The Delhi High Court on Friday asked the ICMR to come out with a clarification that mobile number, government-issued identity card, photographs or even a residential proof ought not to be insisted upon for Covid-19 test of mentally ill homeless persons.
According to an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) advisory of June 19, every person who was to be tested for Covid-19 has to provide a government-issued identity proof and should have a valid phone number for tracing and tracking the individual and his/her contacts.
A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan said that ICMR should issue a clarification by way of a circular or an official order that the identity proof, address proof and mobile number are not required for testing mentally ill homeless persons.
The high court said a camp can be organised for testing such persons as is being done across Delhi for others.
"Guidelines have to be given by you (ICMR). You put it in black and white for the states'' benefit. You only need to clarify in two-three lines that mobile number, address proof and identity cards are not required for testing mentally ill homeless persons," it said.
"Use your powers for the public at large. Once you do so (issue the clarification), all states will comply," the bench added.
Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for ICMR, sought time to take instructions from the government regarding the observations made by the bench.
The high court, thereafter, listed the matter for further hearing on August 7.
The bench was hearing a PIL moved by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal seeking directions to ICMR and Delhi government to issue guidelines for Covid-19 testing of mentally ill homeless persons in the national capital.
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The high court on July 9 had asked the ICMR to consider the plight of the mentally ill homeless persons and see whether they can be tested without insisting upon a mobile number, government issue identity card and residential address proof.
The bench had said to ICMR that many homeless mentally ill persons are institutionalised or in shelter homes and therefore, traceable, so there was no need for their identity proof or phone numbers to test them for Covid-19.
In response to the court''s query, ICMR has filed an affidavit stating that the purpose behind the submission of government identity card and telephone number was to ensure proper tracking and treatment of positive cases and their contacts as ''Test/Track/Treat'' is the best strategy for control of Covid-19 pandemic.
It further said that since health was a state subject, the concerned state health authority may consider adopting a suitable protocol to ensure that the strategy of ''Test/Track/Treat'' is followed and the grievance raised in the PIL is also addressed.
ICMR, in its affidavit, has said that it has only advised facilitating contact tracing as well as tracking of the Covid-19 infected patients.
"The modalities regarding the contact tracing as well as tracking of the Covid-19 infected patients completely falls under the domain of IDSP. NCDC and state health authorities.
"ICMR is a research organization and the contact tracing, as well as tracking of the Covid-19 infected patients, is not under the domain of ICMR," it has said in its affidavit.
Bansal has claimed in his petition that the Delhi government has not taken seriously the lack of guidelines with respect to Covid-19 testing of mentally ill homeless persons.
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He has said the high court had on June 9 directed it to address the grievances raised by him in another PIL with regard to mentally ill homeless persons in accordance with law, rules, regulations and government policy.
He said that on June 13 he also sent a representation to the Chief Secretary of Delhi government for providing treatment to mentally ill homeless persons in the national capital who have no residence proof.
However, nothing was done by the Delhi government, he had told the court.
The development comes nearly two months after his wife and daughter committed suicide by hanging themselves from the ceiling fans at their residence in Nilkanth Apartments. The two had left separate suicide notes, saying the "CBI raid" caused "great humiliation" and they did not want to live after that.
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He had Family
He had Children
He had good Job
He had Wealth
He had Status
He had Worldly Power
He had House
He had Assets.
He had almost everything that this world can keep him happy.
But his whole family ended up in killing themselves...
Thats where WE need the guidance from the TRUE GOD who created U ME and all that exists.
Prophet Muhammad pbuh is the light for Mankind... if We doesnt know about him then U are living in darkness with all those thing which world can Give U ... its a temporay need in this life but Get the life of contentment ... U need to look into the guidance for Mankind that is the QURAN (thequranproject) and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad pbuh...
Know the REALITY of worshiping the man made gods... U will understand what going on in this life.
Allah says in Qur'an, \we have not created mankind and Jinn except to worship me\".
\" the life of this world is nothing but quick passing time\".
so know your true lord,purpose of his creation and lead a blissful life and strive for hereafter.
\"whatever u missed in this world was never gonna reach u and whatever has reached u was never gonna miss u\".
give thanks to allah when u receive something and have patience when u lose it.
to allah we belong and to him is our return."
The more you try to know about the TRUE GOD who created all that exists.. the less U will take such henious steps...
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