Hearing a PIL, Gujarat has refused to direct the state government to disclose the names of Covid-19 patients. Atul Rajani, a sitting municipal councillor from Rajkot, had sought HC’s intervention after the civic and district authorities decided to withhold names of those who were tested positive for Covid-19. Rajani contended that disclosure of names makes it easy for others to isolate themselves, if they have come in contact with the person tested Covid positive. He argued that disclosure of names would be in public interest.
The state government has been opposing this demand, as earlier made for Bhavnagar district, by putting forth the issue of privacy. It submitted before the HC that local administrations decided not to disclose names of the patients after receiving complaints from the patients that they were socially ostracized because their identity was disclosed.
Don’t reveal names of Covid-19 patients: Gujarat HC to state govt
