Amid COVID Surge, Delhi HC Pulls Up AAP Govt for Relaxing Norms

The High Court directed the government to file a status report on the steps taken to curb the spread of coronavirus.

A medic collects samples for COVID-19 testing in New Delhi. Image used for representational purposes. 

(Photo: PTI/Kamal Kishore)

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday, 11 November, pulled up the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government led by Arvind Kejriwal for relaxing norms for public gatherings and transport at a time when the city is seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases, news agency PTI reported.

Directing the Delhi government to file a status report on the steps taken to curb the spread of coronavirus in the last two weeks, the High Court noted how Delhi was ahead of states like Kerala and Maharashtra in terms of the daily COVID-19 cases these days.

While other states are imposing restrictions, the Delhi government is relaxing all norms, with caution being thrown to the wind, the court reportedly said.

Infection has become rampant and spiralled out of control in the national capital, it added.

The court's observation come at a time when Delhi, as many have pointed out, is experiencing a third wave of COVID-19 infection. Daily cases have soared beyond 7,000 in the last few days, with the number of fatalities also increasing. Many have attributed the rise in cases to the colder temperature and air pollution, along with the festive season and relaxed norms.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)