SC refuses demand of inquiry into center’s Covid-19 ‘mismanagement’

(Riya Singh, Intern Journalist): On Friday, the Supreme Court said that it is not in favor of appointing a commission to inquire into the alleged mismanagement of the covid-19 pandemic in the country. A bench headed by Justice L. Nageswara Rao along with Justices Hemant Gupta and S. Ravindra Bhat observed that it cannot have an inquiry into the allegations and there is a worldwide view that the judiciary should not interfere in the executive decision in an emergency situation like the pandemic.

The apex court was hearing a plea filed by six petitioners who have alleged that the Centre failed to undertake timely and effective measures for containing transmission of the virus. The petition, filed through advocate Prashant Bhushan, claimed that the Centre’s response to the pandemic and its deleterious impact on the lives and livelihoods of the citizens is a definite matter of public importance and warrants appointment of a commission under Section 3 of the Act.

It said the nationwide lockdown, which had commenced from March 25, and the manner in which it was implemented has had a devastating impact on jobs, livelihood, and the overall economy. It alleged that the authorities failed in drawing up national plans and issuing guidelines for providing minimum standards of relief to vulnerable sections of the society under the Disaster Management Act 2005. The plea alleged that there was a delay in ensuring adequate supplies of personal protective equipment for the safety of healthcare workers during the pandemic.

It claimed that the Centre has failed to undertake effective measures for containing the transmission of the virus even after being notified about it by the World Health Organisation in early January this year. The plea has alleged that these lapses while dealing with the covid-19 pandemic have led to a severe infraction of the fundamental rights of people. It claimed that prior to March 4 and during the months of January and February, the authorities failed to conduct screening and surveillance of an adequate number of international passengers.