The Supreme Court on Thursday took suo motu cognizance of Covid management — the supply of oxygen, essential drug supply, method and manner of vaccination, and judicial power to declare lockdown.
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.”
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The top court was hearing an application by Vedanta seeking to carry some repair work and re-start the oxygen plant at the Tuticorin, which can manufacture a thousand of 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.
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The top court also asked the Centre to present a national plan. The matter has been scheduled for hearing on Friday.
SOURCE-IANS
