Country-wide lockdown again? Supreme court asks Centre, States to consider imposing lockdown
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New Delhi, May 03: As India continues to battle with the second wave of COVID, the Supreme Court of India urged the Centre and state governments “to consider imposing a lockdown to break the chain in the interest of public welfare”.
The three-judge bench headed by DY Chandrachud, L Nageswara Rao directed the Centre and the states to "consider imposing a ban on mass gatherings and superspreader events". Court said, "At the same time, we would seriously urge the Central and State Governments to consider imposing a ban on mass gatherings and super spreader events. They may also consider imposing a lockdown to curb the virus in the second wave in the interest of public welfare."
Further, considering lockdown's impact on the economy and marginalized communities, SC asked the center and state govt to make arrangements to protect vulnerable sections during a lockdown. "Having said that, we are cognizant of the socio-economic impact of a lockdown, specifically, on the marginalized communities. Thus, in case the measure of a lockdown is imposed, arrangements must be made beforehand to cater to the needs of these communities, "said the Supreme Court order.
The judges also asked the Centre to formulate a national policy on admissions to hospitals within two weeks and said that no one should be denied hospitalisation or medicines if someone lacks local residential proof. The court suggested the Centre exercise its statutory powers under the Disaster Management Act.
The top court also directed the Centre to ensure that the deficit in the supply of oxygen to the national capital is rectified before May 3 midnight.
"The Central Government shall, in collaboration with the states, prepare a buffer stock of oxygen for emergency purposes and decentralize the location of the emergency stocks. The emergency stocks shall be created within the next four days and are to be replenished on a day-to-day basis, in addition to the existing allocation of oxygen supply to the States," the bench said.
The court passed an order in this regard after hearing from officials over measures being taken to counter the second wave of the pandemic. India has been recording over 3 lakh COVID-19 cases for the past few weeks. A total of 3.68 fresh COVID-19 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours.
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