Senior advocates Jaideep Gupta, Meenakshi Arora appointed amici curiae in SC’s suo motu Covid case

THE Supreme Court Tuesday appointed senior advocates Jaideep Gupta and Meenakashi Arora as amici curiae to assist the Court in the suo motu case pertaining to the Covid19 crisis in the country.

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, L Nageshwara Roa and Ravindra Bhat passed an order to this effect a few days after senior advocate Harish Salve recused himself from the position. Salve had said he did not want to continue as amicus so that the case is not heard under the shadow that he was appointed on account of the fact that he and Chief Justice of India S A Bobde (now retired) were school friends.

The top court is considering the issue supply of oxygen, availability of essential medicines, manner and method of vaccinations and whether a court can declare a lockdown.

The court asked both amicus curiae to file their note on the subject matter before the next date of hearing on Friday.

It also directed the Central Government to clarify the basis and rationale on which COVID-19 vaccines are being priced in the country.

Besides, the court told the Centre to apprise it of modalities on the distribution of oxygen, vaccines to states and their monitoring mechanism

(The story to be updated once the court order is out.)