Questioning Vaccine Pricing To Warning Against Clampdown On Those Seeking Help, What SC Said

The Uttar Pradesh government had come under heavy criticism after it said that assets of those trying to create panic in the name of shortage of beds, oxygen etc. will be confiscated.

Many felt that the order which came at a time when millions are using social media to amplify their cries for help was aimed at covering up the ground realities in the state.

PTI

What SC said

On Friday, the Supreme Court said that there should be no clampdown on citizens seeking help on the presumption that they are raising false grievances on the internet.

There should be free flow of information, we should hear voices of citizen," said a bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud, and asked the Centre, states and all DGPs not to take any action against anyone posting a shortage of oxygen, beds or doctors as spreading rumour.

Reuters

If any action is taken against such posts by citizens in distress, we will treat it as contempt of the court, the bench also comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat said.

SG Tushar Mehta agreed

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta said he cannot agree more with the SC on this issue.

The bench said that through a free flow of information on the deficiencies and needs during this humanitarian crisis on social media platforms, "we will be in a better position to tackle the problem".

Reuters

Observing that even frontline doctors and healthcare workers were not getting beds for treatment, the bench said the healthcare infrastructure inherited over the past 70 years was not sufficient and the situation was grim.

The apex court said hostels, temples, churches and other places be opened for converting them as COVID-19 care centres.

SC says hostels, temples, churches and other places be opened for converting them as COVID care centres

¡ª Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 30, 2021

On another contentious issue, the different pricing for the two vaccines sold to the Centre and state governments, the SC said it is "very very disturbing".

Reuters

The SC asked Centre to explain why the Covid-19 vaccine has been priced differently for the states, the private sector and the Centre.

"Why cannot the government buy all vaccines and proceed on the lines of the national immunisation programme," asked the court.

'Consider National Immunisation Programme '

SC said the government must consider National Immunisation Programme for various vaccines and must think of providing free of cost vaccination to all citizens.

The court said that the private manufacturers cannot be left to decide which state should get how much quantity vaccines.

BCCL

"What happens to the marginalised and SC/ST population? Should they be left to the mercy of private hospitals,¡± it asked.

Last week, the SC had taken suo moto cognizance of the issues related to the oxygen supply, drug supply, and various other government policies and measures in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.