Keypoints:
- SC said that no state can register FIR or take any action against citizens appealing for help or putting out their grievances on social media or elsewhere.
- It also said that the healthcare infrastructure has been inherited in the past 70 years and hence the proceedings are not to criticize the Centre or the States.
On Friday, the Supreme Court said that no state can log a First Information Report (FIR) or take any action against people who are seeking help or they are putting their grievances on social media or elsewhere during this crucial times. To this, the top court said that, “We will treat this as Contempt of Court. Let us hear the voices of our citizens and not clampdown.”
Amidst the rising cases of Covid-19, Justice DY Chandrachud said during the hearing that, “It is grave concern to me as a citizen or a judge. If citizens communicate their grievances on social media, we do not want to clampdown on information.”
The Supreme Court also said that the healthcare infrastructure has been inherited in the last 70 years and so the proceedings are not to criticize the Centre or States.
Justice Chandrachud also said that, “We are concerned only about the health of people and it is not to pass a value judgement.” He also said that the Centre must show investment by it to ramp up the manufacturing of Covid vaccines. He added that, “This will be the most important intervention by the Central government when private manufacturers have been funded to produce vaccines.”
“So, let a strong message go out to all the states and the DGPs (directors-general of police) of the states not to take action against citizens for social media posts about shortage of beds, Covid care centres and hospitals, etc, during the pandemic. Clampdown of information is contrary to basic precepts”, Justice Chandrachud said.
Conviction of contempt can lead to jail term of up to 6 months.
“By (allowing) free flow of information on the deficiencies and needs during this humanitarian crisis on social media platforms, we will be in a better position to tackle the problem,” the bench said.
People across the country have taken to social media to put up the shortages afflicting the treatment of Covid patients and the authorities’ shoddy pandemic management.
