Cannot be mute spectators, will coordinate efforts, SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday again clarified that while taking up the shortage of oxygen, medicines, vaccines and other supplies in the Covid crisis, it did not intend to stop High Courts from hearing petitions in various states. The court said it intended to play a complimentary role and could not be a silent spectator at this time. "There are certain national issues to be dealt by the Supreme Court. At a time of national crisis, Supreme Court cannot be silent spectator," the Supreme Court said.

"We are not preventing the High Courts from hearing. We are playing complementary role, if High Courts have any difficulty in dealing with issues due to territorial limitations, we will help," said the three-judge bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, LN Rao and Ravindra S Bhat. However, as per the apex court's request, the Centre has submitted a national plan, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court. The court will examine the Centre's reply in a day or two. The SC bench also said the matter will be heard on a day-to-day basis as it is an urgent and evolving issue. After hearing all the arguments, the SC bench directed the Centre to submit detailed data on the supply of oxygen, medicines, health infrastructure and vaccination drive.