[COVID-19] Plea For More Testing Laboratories and Quarantine Centres: SC Directs To Consider It As Representation

The Supreme Court of India on Monday issued notice on a plea seeking an increase in testing laboratories and quarantine centers in view of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country.

Chief Justice of India SA Bobde also directed for Public Interest Litigations seeking orders regarding COVID-19 restrictions were to be considered as Representations by the appropriate ministry. This direction was given while considering another PIL seeking closure of places of religious worship in order to ensure the implementation of social distancing.

Last week, a PIL had been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking directions for combating the spread of Coronavirus. Taking into account the vast population of the country, the plea inter alia sought for the availability of temporary hospitals, thermal screening at public places and other facilities in face of a possible outbreak.

"…seeking an order or direction from this Hon'ble Court directing the Respondents to exponentially increase the number of authorized laboratories for testing Coronavirus (COVID-19) in order to ensure widespread accessibility of the testing centres given the huge population of our country; to exponentially increase quarantine/isolation centres in the event of further outbreak of COVID-19; and to make available temporary hospital beds and such other facilities for rural patients to be combat ready for any exigency in case of a possible outbreak in rural India; and to facilitate thermal screening at public places as a precautionary measure to contain the outbreak of COVID-19".

The plea, filed by Advocates Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi and Ashima Mandla on behalf of Petitioners Prashant Tandon and Kunjana Singh, averred that a rapid response of war-like preparation was required as the possibility of an unthinkable catastrophe loomed on the horizon due to the highly contagious nature of COVID-19.

Chief Justice Bobde, while issuing notice, also noted that the government was doing an adequate job. "The government is doing its bit very well. Even their critics are saying that they are doing good work."

The Supreme Court today also directed for the functioning of the court to be restricted to only urgent matters which would be conducted via video-conferencing; lawyers were directed to Skype from their offices. The lawyers' chambers were also instructed to cease functioning from 5pm onwards.