Samanwaya Rautray
Solicitor general Tushar Mehta opposed the plea filed by activists Harsh Mander and Anjali Bhardwaj, saying that such “PIL shops” must be closed down. “Genuine persons are helping people on the ground. Sitting in AC rooms and filing PILs doesn’t help,” Mehta said.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred a decision on bringing back more than 800 Indian pilgrims stuck in Iran - including 250 who have since tested positive for the Covid-19 virus agreeing with the government’s wait and watch policy on the issue.
Dr Jerryl Banait had, through advocate Sunil Fernandes, filed a petition seeking such kits for all staff, including support staff, nurses and other health workers, engaged in the fight against the virus.
The SG blamed the exodus on fake news which had triggered the panic seeking court intervention to deal with the menace. He said that the migrants on the roads were only a fraction of the huge population that migrates to cities in search of work.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the media to refer to an official portal, which will be created by the government within 24 hours to deal with updated corona related developments, and publish the official version about the developments.
Justice S Ravindra Bhatt was seen personally handing over food packets on Sunday to some of the fleeing migrants on one of Delhi’s roads.
The Supreme Court on Monday dubbed 'fear' and 'panic' over the Covid-19 virus outbreak as a bigger threat than the pandemic itself and asked the government for a report on the steps it has taken to deal with the problems posed by the sudden exodus of migrants from cities to the hinterland.
A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant, which heard the matter through video-conferencing, issued notice to the Centre on the plea which has sought a direction to the government to provide adequate medical support to these Indian citizens who are stranded in Iran till their evacuation.
The court had put up a notice to this effect late on Tuesday night after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus infection.
The top court, which had laid out an advance list for the day, did not sit in court. A bench will be available on Wednesday, a court release said. The court registry will function with skeletal staff strength to help it hear urgent matters.
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