AMIT KUMAR AGARWAL Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Following issues arise for consideration in the present petition:-

(2.) The petitioners in the present case are all individuals directly or indirectly affected by Thalassemia, and they are all committed to working to better the people suffering from this disease. Allegedly, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the condition of patients suffering from Thalassemia in the State of Bihar has become increasingly critical with an apparent rise in fatalities with each passing day. This can be attributed to a shortage of blood and a lack of arrangements for proper treatment. Numerous reports published in National Dailies and online portals have reported on the sad state of affairs.

(3.) The petitioners have cited seven real-life instances from where an apparent lack of proper medication and blood has resulted in five fatalities, namely Sonu Kumar (aged nine years), son of Vijendra Yadav, resident of village- Basvelli, P.O. Tolli, P.S.-Dagrawa, District ..Purnea, Bihar, Diwakar Kumar (aged 2.5 years) son of Sri Ajit Kumar, resident of Village- Kairin, P.O. Dulmanjhi, District-Purnea, Bihar; Shivam Kumar (aged five years) son of Sri Mantu Kumar Mandal, resident of village- Bhavanipur, P.O.-Dulmanjhi, District- Purnea, Bihar; Qumar Parveen (aged six years) son of Sri Shakir Alam, resident of Village- Bhokraha, P.O.-Dulmanjhi, District-Purnea, Bihar; and Sahil (aged three years) son of Sri Ibnul Haq, resident of Village-Amgachi, District-Purnea, Bihar, and the other two, namely Shubham (aged seven years) son of Sri Anil Kumar Sahani, resident of Muzaffarpur, Bihar and Md. Talha Tanveer (aged three years), son of Md. Tanveer Alam, residing at Muzaffarpur, Bihar, continue to suffer. One common contention of all was the lack of medical resources and other essential equipment for treating Thalassemia patients. Some patients and their relatives have further contended that blood is being sold on the black market. The petitioners contend that each of these instances brings forth a chilling realization for the need to introspect.