2025:HHC:44590-DB IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA. CWPIL No. 3 of 2020 a/w CWP No. 2687 of 2020, CWPIL No. 11 of 2020 & CWP No. 356 & 2795 of 2021 Date of decision: .17.12.2025 CWPIL No. 3 of 2020 Court on its own motion …Petitioner Versus State of H.P. & Ors. …Respondents CWP No. 2687 of 2020 Inderjit Singh ...Petitioner Versus State of H. P. & Ors. ...Respondents CWPIL No. 11 of 2020 Court on its own motion ...Petitioner Versus State of H.P.& Ors. ...Respondents CWP No. 356 of 2021 Deshbandhu & Anr. ...Petitioners Versus Union of India & Ors. ...Respondents CWP No. 2795 of 2021 Ashutosh Gupta ...Petitioner Versus State of H.P. & Ors. ...Respondents Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice G. S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice. The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj, Judge. Whether approved for reporting? For the Petitioner(s): Court on its own motion in CWPIL No. 3/2020. Mr. Nitin Thakur, Advocate, for the petitioner in CWP No. 2687 of 2020. Ms. Shreya Chauhan, Advocate, for the petitioner in CWPIL No. 11 of 2020. 2 2025:HHC:44590-DB Mr. Vinod Chauhan, Advocate, for the petitioner in CWP No. 356 of 2021. Mr. B. N. Misra, Senior Advocate with Ms. Vandana Misra, Advocate, for the petitioner in CWP No. 2795 of 2021. For the Respondents: Mr. Pranay Pratap Singh, Additional Advocate General, for respondents- State, in all the petitions. Mr. Balram Sharma, Deputy Solicitor General of India with Mr. Rajeev Sharma, Advocate, for Union of India, in all the petitions. G. S. Sandhawalia , Chief Justice (Oral) All these petitions were initiated in the year, 2020/2021, when the country, as such, was stricken with Covid pandemic and various directions were issued. 2. It is not disputed that the Apex Court had also issued direction on 27.04.2021 SMW (C) No. 3/2021, regarding Distribution of Essential Supplies and Services during pandemic, whereby the High Courts were not to be restrained by the pendency of these proceedings in passing appropriate orders to deal with the emerging situations. Thereafter, various directions were issued by this Court regarding oxygen facilities, which were not available at that point of time in May, 2021 and revamping of the facilities and the District Level Committees were also set up. Vide order dated 07.07.2021, District Monitoring Committees were set up and the reports of the Committees were duly considered. Suggestions were given regarding the issue of 3 2025:HHC:44590-DB seasonal labour, which would have to come and various festivals and functions, which would have to be held in temples and schools. Reports were asked for and efforts were made by this Court to monitor the issue in its true sum and substance. 3. In order dated 14.07.2021 passed by this Court, enhanced bed capacity was examined and directions were issued that some more steps are required to be done. Directions were issued to consider second report of each one of the District Monitoring committees. 4. It is a matter of record that eventually vide order dated 25.02.2022, the interim orders dated 07.07.2021 and 14.07.2021 were set aside on account of the appeals preferred by the State of Himachal Pradesh and a challenge has been laid to setting up of District Level Monitoring Committees, which had initially been stayed on 13.09.2021. 5. Keeping in view the controversy, which had arisen, we are of the considered opinion that much water has flowed under the bridge now and Covid is but a long forgotten story. 6. Resultantly, we deem it fit, as such, to order closure of these petitions. We also place on record appreciation for the valuable assistance rendered by the learned Advocates, during the difficult time, even when the proceedings were conducted through video conferencing. 4 2025:HHC:44590-DB 7. All the petitions stand disposed of, so also pending applications, if any. Copy of this order be placed on all files. (G. S. Sandhawalia) Chief Justice (Jiya Lal Bhardwaj) 17th December, 2025 Judge (sanjeev)