SC allows Tamil Nadu govt to use four floors of pvt hospital for COVID patients

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday allowed the Tamil Nadu government to use top four floors of a Chennai-based private hospital for treating COVID-19 patients.

The top court took note of the plea of Billroth Hospitals Ltd that its 4th to 7th floors, which were found to be illegal by the Madras High Court, be allowed to be used by the Tamil Nadu government which needed additional in-patient beds for treatment of the Covid-19 patients in view of the current pandemic.

Since the demand for additional space has been made by the state of Tamil Nadu, we consider it appropriate to permit the State of Tamil Nadu to use the said floors, that is 4th to 7th floors of the building for the purpose of dealing with the pandemic.

The state of Tamil Nadu may utilize the services of any agency, including the petitioner-Hospital for the purpose of said treatment, a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said in the order.

It asked the state government to have arrangements with the private hospital regarding doctors, nursing staff and other facilities for treating COVID-19 patients.