SHASHANK DEO SUDHI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Court by order dated 03.04.2020 had directed the petitioner to serve a copy of the petition to learned Solicitor General of India.

(2.) Two weeks time is allowed to respondents to file an affidavit in reply.

(3.) This writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India filed as Public Interest Litigation seeks a direction to the respondents for ensuring to provide free of cost testing facility of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) by all testing Labs whether private or Government. The petitioner has also challenged the Advisory dated 17.03.2020 issued by Indian Council of Medical Research Department of Health Research, insofar as it fixed Rs.4500 for screening and confirming COVID-19. The petitioner also prays that a direction be issued that all the tests relating to COVID-19 must be carried out under NABL accredited Labs or any agencies approved by WHO or ICMR. Even before the COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by WHO on 11.03.2020, it had spread in several countries. As of now, more than 200 countries are suffering from this pandemic. The number of patients suffering from COVID-19 is rapidly increasing Worldwide with death toll rising rapidly. In our country, in spite of various measures taken by the Government of India and different State Government/Union Territory the number of patients and death caused by it is increasing day by day. Our country has a very large population.