Gauhati High Court directs Assam govt to submit all notifications on testing asymptomatic patients

July 13: The Gauhati High Court asked the Assam Government to submit before it all notifications regarding testing of asymptomatic patients of COVID-19 in the state. Responding to a PIL filed by Advocate Daiyan Hussain, Chief Justice Ajay Lamba directed the government counsel to produce before the court the government notifications on this matter.

There is no clarity on the process of COVID19 testing of general public especially asymptomatic persons in Assam, stated Advocate Hussain in his petition (No- 40 of 2020) which was taken up by the High Court on Monday. Further, the petitioner also questioned the pricing of the COVID 19 test in private hospitals and laboratories. He pleaded that the testing fee for determining COVID-19 at private hospitals be reduced to Rs 2,200 from the present Rs 4,500.

The litigation was filed before the Gauhati High Court on 23 June. The petitioner challenged that there was no proper notification issued by the State Health Department for testing of COVID 19 patients, whom to test and who not to test in cases pertaining to asymptomatic ones. Advocate Sumit Rajput, represented the petitioner from Delhi through a virtual court appearance. The matter is listed for next hearing on 3 August 3.