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2022 Supreme(Del) 124
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Vipin Sanghi, Navin Chawla, JJ.
Court On Its Own Motion - Appellant
Versus
Gnct Of Delhi & Ors. - Respondents
W.P.(C) 3270/2020
Decided On : 07-04-2022
Mr. Anuj Aggarwal, Asc, Mr.Sanayam Suri, Advocate, Mr. Akhil Mittal, Standing Counsel, North Mcd. With Mr. Hardik Aggarwal, Mr. Vivek Singhal, And Ms. Unnati Chauhan, Advocates, for the Respondent.
The Court's decision was based on the change in circumstances, leading to the petition's irrelevance
Headnote:
Public Interest Litigation - Covid-19 Pandemic - Court initiated proceedings to address shortage of facilities for cremation of Covid victims
Fact of the Case:
The Court initiated the Public Interest Litigation during the Covid-19 pandemic due to reports of a shortage of facilities for cremation of Covid victims
Finding of the Court:
The Court found that the situation had significantly changed over time, rendering the petition irrelevant in the current context, and therefore closed the proceedings
Issues: Shortage of facilities for cremation of Covid victims
Ratio Decidendi: The Court's decision was influenced by the significant change in the situation over time, making the petition irrelevant
Final Decision: The Court closed the proceedings at this stage due to the loss of relevancy in the current context
ORDER
1. This Court had suo moto initiated the present Public Interest Litigation at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic on 28.05.2020 taking cognizance of news reports, which showed that a large number of dead bodies of Covid victims were lying in hospitals, mortuaries and cremation grounds and cremation was not being undertaken of the dead due to shortage of sufficient facilities. In the background of large number of deaths suffered due to the pandemic, certain orders have been passed in the proceedings from time to time. Status reports were filed and it appears that certain steps have also been taken.
2. The situation has undertaken a sea change with the passage of time and the present petition has, therefore, lost its relevancy in today's context. We, accordingly, close these proceedings at this stage.
