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Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court, by order dated May 25, 2021, called upon ASGI to answer on the dysfunctional ventilators supplied through the PM CARES Fund.

A Division Bench of Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice BU Debadwar, while recording their displeasure, said, “Contrary statements are being issued by the politicians which we find distasteful as some politicians have visited the hospital, posing as if they have the knowledge and the expertise to inspect the ventilators and recommend correctional steps. We would appreciate if political colour is not attached to this issue of dysfunctional ventilators.”

It was added that 64 ventilators received from various Industrial Establishments were perfectly operational, however, issue of faulty ventilators provided by PM CARES appear “quite serious”.

Reliance in this regard was placed on the newspaper reports of ‘Dainik Lokmat’,‘ Dainik Divya Marathi’, etc.

The order concerned with the mucormycosis treatment and PM CARES Ventilators provided to the State.

It was clarified that Non-Government hospitals which fall under the 131 identified hospitals for mucormycosis treatment would be prohibited to charge as per their normal rates in light of the recent GO; Private hospitals which are not empanelled under MJPJAY/PMJAY would not be covered by the said Government Resolution.

“In short, if any Mucormycosis patient desires to approach a hospital which is not empanelled with the State of Maharashtra under the said two schemes, he will have to pay the charges as per the bills that may be raised by such private hospitals”, the order noted.

Matter has been listed for ASGI’s submission on May 28.

Case Title: Registrar Judicial v. Union of India | CRIMINAL SUO MOTO PIL NO. 2 of 2021