Two of BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal's recent circulars on the COVID-19 situation in the city, have drawn criticism from doctors, who believe they are vague. Speaking to mid-day hours before the SC ruling, Chahal said the circulars were issued after studying the situation and taking expert opinion. He also assured that the BMC took the decisions strictly to safeguard the interests of symptomatic patients, who are in need of urgent medical care. "We shall implement the SC order fully," Chahal said later.

The first circular that was issued earlier this month had asked private laboratories to not share COVID-19 reports with patients or private hospitals and send them to the BMC instead. The civic body would then share them with the patients or hospitals concerned through their teams. In the second circular issued on June 13, the corporation asked private hospitals to not admit walk-in COVID-19 suspected or positive patients without permission from the local ward war rooms.