Supreme Court rejects PIL for independent probe into "mismanagement" of COVID-19 pandemic
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday rejected a PIL filed by retired bureaucrats alleging gross mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic by the central government as the number of those infected by the virus has crossed 63 lakh in the country.
A bench headed by Justice L N Rao was told by advocate Prashant Bhushan that on February 4, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had issued an advisory but international passengers were not screened until March 4.
Bhushan said the "Namaste Trump" event was allowed to happen on February 24 and one lakh people had gathered at a stadium despite the MHA advisory that crowding should be avoided.
He submitted that experts had advised against a full lockdown due to which the GDP contracted by an unprecedented 23 per cent, while crores of jobs were lost and the economy destroyed.
Bhushan contended that the government has been unable to control COVID-19 and as per official figures, over 63 lakh people have been infected by the virus.
He claimed that the lockdown was unilaterally announced by the government without consulting the experts. He said before the imposition of lockdown, no steps were taken to procure PPE kits due to which several doctors lost their lives.
He said several policemen have also lost their lives due to COVID and added these issues require inquiry.
Bhushan said as per figures over two crore salaried people have lost their jobs. He also referred to the issue of migration during the lockdown and said that the infection has spread across the country.
The bench said that this is a matter for public debate, not for the court and We are not inclined to interfere . It added that these are matters for the Government to look into and the authorities should be given the latitude.
The petition filed by a group of petitioners including retired bureaucrats alleged that the Centre failed to undertake timely and effective measures for containing transmission of the virus and an independent inquiry by a commission, appointed under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1952, was essential to inquire into the "lapses".
The petition, filed through Bhushan, has 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.
The plea has claimed that 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 nationwide lockdown, which was announced on March 24, was "arbitrary, irrational and without due consultation with experts or state governments''.
"In spite of being the harshest and most restrictive lockdown in the world, it has failed to arrest the spread of the disease," the plea claimed and also referred to the "exodus" of migrant workers and daily wagers during the lockdown from cities to their respective home towns.
It alleged that the authority has also failed in drawing up a national plan 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 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 virus even after being notified about it by the World Health Organization (WHO) 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 have failed to conduct screening and surveillance of an adequate number of international passengers.
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Kharge dares PM Modi to take steps against BJP leaders who talk about altering Constitution
Kishanganj/Katihar (Bihar) (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action against BJP leaders who have stated that the Constitution will be changed if the saffron party won more than 400 seats in Lok Sabha.
Addressing back-to-back election rallies in Kishanganj and Katihar Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar, Kharge also came down heavily on former Congress ally Nitish Kumar, alleging that the Bihar chief minister had "no principles" and, hence, was "more dangerous" than even the BJP.
"Modi has, of late, been showing a lot of reverence for the Constitution. If he means what he says, how are leaders of the BJP able to get away with their statements? Why is he taking no action against them", said Kharge, referring to recent utterances by leaders like Anant Hegde, Jyoti Mirdha and Lallu Singh.
The Congress president alleged that the BJP was out to implement the agenda of the RSS "which had played no role in the struggle for the country's independence", and warned that "the ongoing elections are critical for saving democracy and the Constitution in the country. If we fail, our future generations will suffer".
Kharge also lashed out at Nitish Kumar, who heads the JD(U), saying, "Our ally Tejashwi Yadav (RJD leader) has many times lamented the betrayal of his chacha (uncle). I say it is good riddance. People like Nitish Kumar are more dangerous than the BJP and RSS, which at least have a known ideology, however flawed. Nitish Kumar has no principles. He cares only for power".
Notably, Kumar dumped the INDIA bloc that he had helped form a few months ago when he returned to the NDA, less than two years after having snapped ties with the BJP accusing it of having tried to engineer a split in JD(U).
"The double engine in Bihar often meets with accidents, causing the train carriages to decouple", remarked Kharge, referring to the "unstable" nature of the BJP-JD(U) alliance.
He also lambasted Modi for "always alleging that in 70 years nothing substantial was achieved in the country and blaming the Congress for it". Kharge pointed out, "Our leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi lost their lives in attacks by terrorists who targeted them because they were trying to uphold the integrity of the nation."
Kharge also said the people should ask Modi what happened to his promise of 'achche din' (good days).
"Nowhere are to be seen the doubling of farmers' income and Rs 15 lakh in every person's account, drawn through black money he had promised to bring from abroad. Does he mean by 'achche din' skyrocketing prices of petrol and cooking gas and unemployment at an all-time high?," the Congress president asked.
Kharge also accused Modi in particular and the BJP in general of splurging money on "propaganda", and remarked "the source of their funding has become known. The electoral bonds were the biggest scam.
Companies have been shown to have bought bonds worth several times their turnover. Many business entities purchased these after raids by investigating agencies".
Kharge also alleged that central agencies, like ED, CBI and the Income Tax department, were being used to settle political scores and claimed that "more than 20 political leaders, who faced corruption charges, have got a clean chit after joining or allying with the BJP".
Urging the people to vote for the Congress and its allies, Kharge said, "Do not be swayed by the 'Modi ki guarantee' gimmick. You will not be able to hold anybody to account once the elections are over".
He also enlisted promises made by the Congress in its manifesto, like caste census, raising of MGNREGA wages to Rs 400 per day, the "right to apprenticeship" for youth and Rs one lakh annual dole to poor women.
"Modi says he saw an imprint of the Muslim League in our manifesto. I wonder what he means by that. Are all young people and women Muslims", Kharge asked with dismay.
