The Supreme Court on Thursday took suo motu cognizance of the "alarming situation" in connection with various health emergencies including oxygen shortage, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and issued notice to the Centre seeking a response on kinds of immediate and effective action it can take to handle such situation.
A three-judge bench of the Apex Court, headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde and also comprising Justice L Nageswara Rao and Justice S Ravindra Bhat, took suo motu cognizance of the deficiency of oxygen, medicines, improper treatment and other related issues of COVID patients. "We take suo motu cognisance", the CJI Bobde said and observed that the "current situation is alarming."
Keeping in view the present prevalent situation, due to the pandemic, the top court felt the necessity of a National plan on supply of oxygen, essential medicines, injections and vaccines, and issued notice to the Union of India (UOI) and posted the matter for further hearing on Friday (tomorrow). The Court asked the Centre to present and apprise it as to whether a national plan can be prepared to handle this worrisome situation. It made these remarks, after noting and taking into record at least six different state High Courts have been hearing the matter on the same issues.
Amid the rising cases, a weekend shutdown declared for Saturday and Sunday in all urban areas of the State.
India reported a record-high single-day spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths with more than 3 lakh new cases and over 2,000 deaths on Thursdayeffect from April 24.
The country recorded as many as 3,14,835 new COVID-19 cases and 2,104 deaths reported. Taking the total cases to 1,59,30,965, including 22,91,428 active cases. The death toll related to the infection stands at 1,84,657. As many as 1,34,54,880 recoveries reported so far. Out of which 1,78,841 reported in the last 24 hours. The total number of vaccinations in the country stands at 13,23,30,644.
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