'National emergency-like situation', SC asks Centre for Covid plan

The Supreme Court on Thursday took the suo moto cognisance of the several high court hearings underway regarding Covid-19 preparedness across the country and issued a notice to the Centre on the supply of Covid care essentials, such as oxygen and medicines. Noting that India was currently 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.The bench, which also included justices S Ravindra Bhat and L Nageshwar Rao, noted that currently 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.

It, therefore, said that it will issue a notice to the Centre on four issues: supply of oxygen; supply of essential drugs; - method and manner of vaccination; and power to declare lockdown. The CJI noted that the right to impose lockdown should be reserved with the states and not the courts should not have a say in the matter. Senior advocate Harish Salve, who is at present in London, has been appointed as amicus curiae in the case, as he was present in the video-conferencing hearing to represent the Vedanta-Sterlite company in a different petition.Salve has said that his "Delhi office" will "coordinate with the solicitor general" about the case.The matter will now be heard on Friday.