Dengue outbreak: Telangana HC asks government to prepare action plan, take effective steps

A bench of acting Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice T. Vinod Kumar was hearing a PIL on strengthening the government hospitals and providing better treatment to patients suffering from swine flu, dengue, malaria, and other seasonal diseases.

The court directed the state government to submit a concrete plan of action to tackle dengue and swine flu. The court also sought suggestions from the petitioner's counsel about the measures to be taken to check viral fever.

Observing that the affidavit filed by the GHMC commissioner in the matter was somewhat vague, the acting CJ said the court wanted a specific action plan and not general statements.

Senior counsel S. Niranjan Reddy, who was appointed as amicus curiae, said the HC had already passed an order in 2019 in a similar matter. The court asked the government to inform them about the measures taken and how effectively these worked out.

On October 24, 2019, this court had passed elaborate directions to tackle dengue. "You are just making statements that fogging was being done and all hospitals were equipped to treat the patients," the bench remarked.

As per that order in 2019, the government had to constitute a committee of officials to monitor the incidence of viral fever and take steps to check its transmission.

Advocate General BS Prasad said the committee had suggested measures including undertaking large-scale larvae removal operations and cleaning areas with stagnant water.

Not satisfied with the explanation, he said there was no need for the court to pass a fresh order every time on such matters of public importance. "Why are the officials not anticipating the possible spread of such diseases and contemplating action?" he asked.

The court came down heavily on the bureaucracy for not taking steps to control dengue.

"Why has the bureaucracy not anticipated these diseases which occur every year? To perform your duties, you require court orders. For the past three years, the court has been passing directions to bureaucrats to take necessary steps and provide medical facilities to deal with dengue and seasonal diseases," the court said.