The Supreme Court on Thursday took suo moto cognizance on issues related to drug supply, vaccine policy in relation to Covid-19 pandemic and said it wanted a “national plan” on issues, including supply of oxygen and essential drugs for treatment of patients infected with the virus.
A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde said it would also consider the issue pertaining to method and manner of Covid vaccination in the country.
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.
Supreme Court, 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.
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 bench issued notice to the Centre and said it would hear the matter on Friday.
The CJI noted that the right to impose lockdown should be reserved with the states and the courts should not have a say in the matter. The Supreme Court’s observation on the matter came a few days after the apex court stayed an order issued by the Allahabad High Court to impose lockdown in several cities in Uttar Pradesh.
