Hearing Of Urgent Matters In Supreme Court- [LIVE-UPDATES]

Bench seeks Centre's reply by next week. "Whenever we sit"

SG: Yesterday we had a similar matter. We are taking steps. Don't issue notice. Give the petition to us. We will take call on it.

The bench asks Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to look into the issue and file a response to the PIL.

SG: "Milords may not issue notice. Give me a copy, I will take cognisance"

Now the SC Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud & MR Shah is hearing a petition seeking, inter alia, immediate implementation of Infection prevention guidelines issued by Govt. & WHO guidelines for rational use of PPE.

Justice Chandrachud states : "We will issue an order in favour of their repatriation as and when their health situation improves but cant say this now. Any way, we will give an order which is in best interests of ur client(s)."

At this juncture, Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde submits that the judges must also not sit together in times of the #COVID19 crisis.

The bench is currently hearing matters via video conferencing and lawyers are apprising the bench from private premises.

The bench says that the Centre be allowed take a decision on those 250 persons who tested positive and are stranded in Iran soon. We will pass orders.

Justice Chandrachud (inclined to dispose off the petition) : "you may raise this issue when the need arises Mr. Hegde"

Justice MR Shah : Govt. is also taking the issue seriously

Justice Chandrachud: We are thinking of asking Indian Embassy to constantly monitor the situation, take fresh tests and look into it so as to ascertain when they can be brought back.

To this, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submits: Many people brought back and sent to Leh have now developed symptoms. 

Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde: "Many of them do not have symptoms. They are asked to stay in hotels where others are being quarantined. They may develop it too. They don't have money, medicines. Why cant they be brought to a place like Leh?"