<p>The High Court on Thursday disposed of a batch of public interest petitions filed by three legislators on various issues relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>A special division bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar posed a series of queries to the petitioner legislators on their contribution in fighting the pandemic.</p>.<p>The court asked, being the privileged section of the society, whether they have set up beds for the Covid-19 patients in their constituencies and whether they have helped in procuring oxygen during medical emergency situations.</p>.<p>The court observed that it has passed various directions, up to 800 pages, since last year. The bench directed the government to file a response in relation to some of the prayers in the petitions, before disposing them.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-hc-directs-govt-to-rework-covid-19-vaccination-strategy-988085.html" target="_blank">Karnataka HC directs govt to rework Covid-19 vaccination strategy</a></strong></p>.<p>The petition filed by K R Ramesh Kumar, former speaker and MLA from Srinivasapur constituency in Kolar district, sought directions to make arrangements for the collection of swabs for RT-PCR test from remote villages across the state. It also prayed for providing mobile laboratories in every corner of the state.</p>.<p>Kumar contended that private hospitals are withholding bodies of Covid-19 victims, in violation of the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act.</p>.<p>The bench said it would be appropriate for the government to issue a circular regarding the RT-PCR tests in remote villages, in the wake of more cases being reported from rural areas.</p>.<p>Another legislator H K Patil prayed for a direction for making available oxygen cylinders with Isro, for storage. The petition was withdrawn when the court declined to entertain the prayer.</p>.<p>Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council S R Patil filed a petition claiming that district administration has been forcing nursing homes to discharge Covid-19 patients in Bagalkot.</p>.<p>The court pointed out that as an MLA, the petitioner cannot take the cause of private hospitals. The hospitals can approach the appropriate forum with grievances, the court said. </p>
<p>The High Court on Thursday disposed of a batch of public interest petitions filed by three legislators on various issues relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>A special division bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar posed a series of queries to the petitioner legislators on their contribution in fighting the pandemic.</p>.<p>The court asked, being the privileged section of the society, whether they have set up beds for the Covid-19 patients in their constituencies and whether they have helped in procuring oxygen during medical emergency situations.</p>.<p>The court observed that it has passed various directions, up to 800 pages, since last year. The bench directed the government to file a response in relation to some of the prayers in the petitions, before disposing them.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-hc-directs-govt-to-rework-covid-19-vaccination-strategy-988085.html" target="_blank">Karnataka HC directs govt to rework Covid-19 vaccination strategy</a></strong></p>.<p>The petition filed by K R Ramesh Kumar, former speaker and MLA from Srinivasapur constituency in Kolar district, sought directions to make arrangements for the collection of swabs for RT-PCR test from remote villages across the state. It also prayed for providing mobile laboratories in every corner of the state.</p>.<p>Kumar contended that private hospitals are withholding bodies of Covid-19 victims, in violation of the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act.</p>.<p>The bench said it would be appropriate for the government to issue a circular regarding the RT-PCR tests in remote villages, in the wake of more cases being reported from rural areas.</p>.<p>Another legislator H K Patil prayed for a direction for making available oxygen cylinders with Isro, for storage. The petition was withdrawn when the court declined to entertain the prayer.</p>.<p>Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council S R Patil filed a petition claiming that district administration has been forcing nursing homes to discharge Covid-19 patients in Bagalkot.</p>.<p>The court pointed out that as an MLA, the petitioner cannot take the cause of private hospitals. The hospitals can approach the appropriate forum with grievances, the court said. </p>