Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tells SC no beds for Covid patients in UP during Siddique Kappan case hearing

Days after CM Yogi Adityanath assured that there was no shortage of beds or oxygen supply in the state, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that the state was suffering from a severe shortage of hospital beds.

A huge number of people are failing to get a hospital bed in Uttar Pradesh, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court on Wednesday. Supreme Court directs Uttar Pradesh government to shift the arrested journalist Siddique Kappan, to RML or AIIMS or wherever treatment can be done. Court says that after Kappan's treatment, he be transferred back to Mathura jail after doctor certifies him to have recovered. pic.twitter.com/CSaiNpJQta “In UP, huge people are not getting beds. I personally know huge, bona fide journalists who are not getting beds. With much difficulty, we got a bed,” the Solicitor General told the SC as he opposed the plea to transfer Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan from Mathura jail. The admission of the Solicitor General in the Supreme Court came two days after CM Yogi Adityanath refuted claims of any shortage of beds or oxygen supply in public and private hospitals in Uttar Pradesh which is battling a serious second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.