The Supreme Court on Thursday took suo motu cognisance of Coronavirus management -- the supply of oxygen, essential drugs supply, method and manner of vaccination and judicial power to declare lockdown. The court has also asked the Centre to design a national policy over all these issues relating to the covid-19 situation in the country.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde also appointed senior advocate Harish Salve as amicus curiae in the matter.
The bench noted that six High Courts -- Delhi, Bombay Sikkim, MP, Calcutta and Allahabad -- were dealing with issues related to COVID management and it was creating confusion.
The court said: "We as a court wish to take suo motu cognizance of certain issues. They (High Courts) are exercising jurisdiction in their best interest. But it is creating confusion and diversion of resources."
The court said that it will also evaluate the judicial power of the High Courts to declare lockdown amid the soaring covid-19 cases.
On Tuesday, the SC had stayed the Allahabad High Court order imposing “almost complete lockdown/curfew in five major cities of Uttar Pradesh”.
The top court was hearing an application by Vedanta seeking to carry out some repair work and restart the oxygen plant at Tuticorin, which can manufacture a thousand tonnes of oxygen for COVID-19 patients.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the country is in dire need of oxygen. The plant has been shut since 2018 over environmental violations.
The top court also asked the Centre to present a national plan. The matter has been scheduled for hearing on Friday.
The court’s observations come on a day when India’s infection record has crossed over 3 lakh. India has reported the world’s biggest surge in Covid cases.
The court has issued notice to the Centre and said it would hear the matter on Friday.