Supreme Court Takes Suo-Moto Cognisance Of COVID-19 Situation ; Asks For A “National Plan”

Observing that currently six High Courts are hearing matters related to COVID-19 and the management by states, CJI Bobde said that this would lead to confusion and diversion of resources.

The Supreme Court today announced that it was taking suo-moto cognisance of the prevailing situation of COVID-19 cases in the country and has also appointed former Solicitor General of India, Harish Salve as amicus curiae in the case. The Court said it wants to see a “national plan” to tackle COVID-19, including solutions to the oxygen crisis and shortage of other medications.

Observing that currently six High Courts are hearing matters related to COVID-19 and the management by states, CJI Bobde said that this would lead to confusion and diversion of resources.

As per Bar and Bench, the Bench said “We as a court wish to take suo moto cognisance of certain issues. we find that there are 6 high courts Delhi, Bombay Sikkim, MP, Calcutta and Allahabad. They are exercising jurisdiction in their best interest. But it is creating confusion and diversion of resources,”

The notice by the Supreme Court will cover four issues, the bench said:

1. supply of oxygen,
2. supply of essential drugs,
3. method and manner of vaccination and
4. power to declare lockdown.

“We want the power to clear lockdowns to be with states and should not be a judicial decision. We issue notice to the Central government on these issues.”

Supreme court

Clearing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s doubt about replying to High Courts after SC’s order, Justice Ravindra Bhat said “You can present the national plan. It is not to supersede any order as of now. You can submit that plan to high courts,”

The bench said it will decide at a later stage whether to transfer the cases from the High Courts to itself. Mehta said in the meantime, the government would intimate these high courts that the Supreme Court was hearing the matter.

The judiciary in the last couple of weeks has taken up urgent hearings on the rising COVID-19 cases in the country and has come down heavily on both Centre and State Governments regarding the mismanagement and lack of transparency among other issues.

Also Read: Supreme Court Paves Way For Appointment of Ad-Hoc Judges

The Delhi HC conducted an urgent hearing yesterday in a plea filed by Max Hospital with regards to the acute shortage of Oxygen. The High Court said that “lives didn’t matter” for the Centre in the current emergency and asked them to arrange Oxygen by whatever means possible, even if it meant diversion from industrial units.

The Bombay High Court slammed the Centre for cutting oxygen supply to Maharashtra, when it needed it the most, and ordered it be reinstated immediately. It also heavily criticised the Maharashtra government over the supply of remdesivir

Meanwhile, India on Thursday reported close to 3.15 lakh cases and 2104 deaths in the last 24 hours, it’s highest since the pandemic.