The High Court on Tuesday asked the government to explain why the letter sent by the Health Ministry to stop law enforcement agencies from raiding public and private hospitals should not be declared illegal, reports UNB.
The bench of Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice SM Kuddus Zaman issued the rule during a virtual court hearing.
Health Services Division of the Health Ministry sent a letter to the Home Ministry on Aug 4 asking it to keep law enforcement agencies away from raiding government and private hospitals. According to the letter, the law enforcement agencies are conducting drive at different government and private hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic, hampering the normal activities of the hospitals.
A tense situation was prevailing in the health organisations over the issue.
Already a taskforce has been formed to observe the overall activities of the Health Services Division, public and private hospitals.
Joint secretary level official of the Public Security Division are in the taskforce.
The letter also said drive should be conducted after consultation with the Health Services Division, if needed.
It also requested to conduct the drive with the team comprising of Health Services Division and Department of Medical Education and Family Planning.
On August 17, Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Yeadia Zaman and Hassan Tarek Palash on behalf of Advocate Rafiqul Islam filed a writ petition challenging the legality of the letter.
Advocate Yeadia Zaman stood for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Amit Dasgupta represented the state.
