SC takes up suo motu case on Covid management, asks Centre for national plan on oxygen supply, vaccination
By Team Newsable | First Published Apr 22, 2021, 2:22 PM ISTAfter taking into the record that six different High Courts are hearing the matter, a three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde, asked the Centre to submit the national plan on how it is planning to tackle the Covid-19 crisis in the country.
The Supreme Court on Thursday took a suo motu cognisance of the present Covid-19 situation of the country, including oxygen and essential drugs supply, vaccination, lockdown etc., and asked the Centre to present a national plan on Covid-19 management, covering all these issues. The apex court will take up the matter for hearing again on Friday.
After taking into the record that six different High Courts are hearing the matter, a three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde, asked the Centre to submit the national plan on how it is planning to tackle the Covid-19 crisis in the country.
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"We as a court wish to take suo motu cognizance of certain issues. we find that there are 6 high courts Delhi, Bombay Sikkim, MP, Calcutta and Allahabad. They are exercising jurisdiction in best interest. But it is creating confusion and diversion of resources," the top court said, as reported by Bar and Bench.
The bench, also comprising Justices L N Rao and S R Bhat, said it would examine the aspect relating to power of the high courts to declare lockdown amid the pandemic.
The apex court appointed senior advocate Harish Salve as an amicus curiae to assist it in the suo motu proceedings.
The development comes ahead of the Delhi high court's hearing of a case related to the oxygen supply in the hospitals of the Capital, scheduled at 3pm.
India has been hit by the second wave of coronavirus pandemic that has led to a massive spike in daily cases. Several states and union territories (UTs), especially Maharashtra and Delhi, have complained of a shortage of oxygen and other medical drugs, asking the central government to help them in the crisis.
Though India has been witnessing an alarming spike in daily cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged states and UTs to avoid complete lockdowns and focus on micro containment zones to check the spread of Covid-19. He has also assured states and UTs of oxygen availability, saying the central government is taking the necessary steps to deal with the situation.
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