Key Points:
- On Thursday, the Supreme Court of India, termed the second wave of Covid-19 as a ‘NATIONAL EMERGENCY-like situation’.
- The SC has decided to send a notice to the Centre on:
- Supply of Oxygen
- Supply of requisite Medicines
- Method and Way of Vaccination
- Power to Declare a Lockdown
- Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said, “We want to see the national plan on this issue.”
The current wave of the Covid-19 Pandemic in the country has reached the sky heights. On Thursday, the Supreme Court of India, termed the second wave of Covid-19 as a ‘NATIONAL EMERGENCY-like situation’ and draw a plan on issues including the oxygen supply as well as the essential drugs and medications for the treatment of the patients plus the method of vaccination, who have unfortunately been affected by the virus.
Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said, “We want to see the national plan on this issue.”
India, on Thursday, recorded the world’s biggest rise in the Covid-19 cases in 24 hours counting 3.14 lakh infections and more than 2,104 deaths and that is when the Supreme Court’s statement came in.
Observing that India was presently facing a national emergency-like situation, the SC bench led by Chief Justice SA Bobde asked the Centre to submit its plan on Covid preparedness, including the details of the nationwide vaccination drive plan.
Justices S Ravindra Bhat and L Nageshwar Rao, were also a part of the bench and they noted that presently six high courts, including Delhi, Bombay, Sikkim, Odisha, Calcutta and Allahabad, were hearing matters related to Covid preparedness. “It’s creating diversion and confusion,” the CJI noted.
“We wish to take suo motu cognisance of certain issues we find in six High Courts – Delhi, Bombay, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Calcutta and Allahabad. Now they are exercising their jurisdiction in best interest. But what is happening is some kind of confusion and diversion of resources,” the Chief Justice noted.
Due to this chaotic situation, the SC decided to send a notice to the Centre itself on four major issues in relation to the pandemic. They are:
- Supply of Oxygen
- Supply of requisite Medicines
- Method and Way of Vaccination
- Power to Declare a Lockdown
The SC-appointed senior advocate Harish Salve as an amicus curiae (court advisor for this situation) to assist it in the suo motu proceedings.
“We want to keep the power to declare lockdown with states. It cannot be a judicial decision,” CJI Bobde mentioned in relation to the Allahabad HC declaring virtual locking in 5 districts in UP.
The Union government has been asked to inform it of existence or requirement of a coordinating body that could make sure the allocation of the resources in a consultative manner with including the concerned states and Union territories so as to provide logistical support for transportation and distribution of essential medicines, oxygen and other resources, the SC said.
Under the law, the necessary treatment equipments and medicines, should be declared as ‘Essential Commodities’, the Apex court told the Centre.
“The country is in dire need of oxygen and the Centre is transporting oxygen from whichever source. Vedanta wants to make its plant operational, but let Vedanta only make it operational to manufacture oxygen for health purposes,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said.
“Between protecting environment and protecting human life, we must lean in favour of protecting human life,” Mehta said.
The said bench is set to hear the further application on Friday.
