The Supreme Court on Monday slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on AAP Minister Satyendra Jain as he failed to disclose on affidavit the names of officers who were not willing to carry out orders to help prevent the spread of dengue and chikungunya in the Capital.
Appearing for Delhi Government, senior advocate Chandra Uday Singh said that the Minister hardly had 24 hours to collect the data to be put on affidavit.
Delhi Health Minister in an earlier affidavit filed on Friday had complained to Court that efforts to curb dengue and chikungunya were falling flat as officers of Delhi government were not willing to cooperate or act as per the Minister’s orders.
Reacting to AAP government’s request for more time, the bench of Justices Madan B lokur and DY Chandrachud said, “If people are dying, you do not need even 24 hours to reply.” Allowing the affidavit to be filed by Tuesday, the Court slapped a fine of Rs 25000 payable by Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain to the Supreme Court legal Services Committee.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar who appeared for l-G also wished to file an affidavit on the subject.
The court had been dealing with deaths caused due to dengue and chikungunya in a suo moto proceedings pending since last year when a Delhi couple committed suicide following their son’s death due to dengue. Five major hospitals in Delhi turned away the boy resulting in his death.