On Wednesday, the Supreme Court instructed the Centre and State Governments that they should assure payment of salaries without fail to doctors and health workers, reports said.
The court has also mandated that quarantine facilities for doctors and health workers shall be guaranteed, even if they are not coming within the 'high risk exposure' category. Directorate of Health has been directed to ensure this by tomorrow.

This order was passed after the bench noticed that the Centre's notification was dealt with, quarantine only for those health workers coming under the ambit of "high risk exposure".
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said to the bench that non-payment of salary will attract penal consequences under the National Disaster Management Act in terms of the announcement of the Centre. The SG also notified the bench that many 5-star hotels have already been requisitioned for transformation as quarantine centres.

Senior Advocate KV Vishwanathan, appearing on behalf of the petitioner Arushi Jain, urged the court to pass regulations to ensure responsibility from the state governments in the matter of payment of salaries to doctors and healthcare workers.

The bench will contemplate the matter after four weeks to take stock of adherence.
A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul & MR Shah passed the guidance in a plea filed by Udaipur-based lawyer Arushi Jain seeking suitable lodging and quarantine facilities for medical workers who are involved in treating of COVID-19 patients.

On June 12, basis the submission of Senior Advocate KV Vishwanathan regarding accession of premises in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, for the setting up of proper accommodation, the Bench instructed the petitioners to hand over their suggestions/concerns to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The court had documented the matter for today thereafter.

Further to this, top court had criticized the government for adopting a nonchalant approach towards providing accommodation facilities to doctors and health workers at the frontline of Coronavirus emergency. The court also took note of the refusal and withholding of their payment, directing the petitioner to communicate their suggestions/concerns to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The bench had stated orally, "We cannot have dissatisfied soldiers in this COVID war. The doctors are not being paid, these things are coming to light, what is this?"

In response to the plea a testimony had been filed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, wherein it was submitted that though sufficient measures and substantive efforts had been taken by the government, the final capacity to protect oneself lay with the doctors themselves.