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

Breaking: SC Says It will modify the order directing Free #Covid_19 Test in Govt. And Pvt. Labs

SC expresses inclination over modification of its earlier order directing the Government to allow free testing of #covid19 by private and government labs and hospitals alike. 

SG: We started 2 months ago with one lab. Now 157 labs are there. You will be amazed at the amount of effort we have put in. Railway coaches turned into hospital, we have taken over private properties.

Bench: Ayushman bharat yojana started 1.5 years ago

You yourself said you don't know data. Your target is ambitious bit you have gaps. MNREGA workers, AB scheme etc."

Solicitor General continues, says that the court has to clarify the order.

"All Ayushman bharat scheme holders get free testing

What to do about private labs can be decided later."

SG Tushar Mehta :

We have 139 govt labs where irrespective of economic status people can go get tested.

We are seeing a serious problem. The end of the problem is unknown. We have to prioritise resources.

The plea in the IA seeks modification of directions to the extent of allowing pvt. labs to charge for #COVID2019 testing does not drop further.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta -

"We have limited resources. We have not availed the outer limits. Fight may go on for over 2 months"

SC is hearing a plea seeking modification of directions passed by the Supreme Court for conducting free testing of COVID19 by Private laboratories & hospitals.

A doctor has filed this Intervention in earlier order(s) of the SC. 

Justice Rao to Adv. Prashant Bhushan while hearing a plea seeking directions to the Government for payment of wages to Migrant workers:

"If we have to pass all the directions that are there in your Petition we will have to start running the government!"

Advocate Prashant Bhushan - These people are in bad state. 4 crore people are in distress. Look at #Germany, #Italy, #France! They have announced aid packages to the poor people. Why isn't the Indian government doing this?