‘Why Are We Acting Only Now?’ Madras High Court Questions Centre Over Handling Of Covid Crisis

Stating there was a need to act on expert advice and not adhocism, Chief Justice Sanjeeb Banerjee asked: “Why are we acting only now in April, though we had one full year?” He made this observation when Additional Solicitor General R. Sankaranarayanan told the Madras High Court that the resurgence of the second wave of the virus was “unexpected”.

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Chennai: Pulling up the Central Government over its alleged lapse in taking prompt action in containing the Covid-19 pandemic, the Madras High Court on Thursday wondered what was the ruling dispensation doing for 14 months.

Stating there was a need to act on expert advice and not adhocism, Chief Justice Sanjeeb Banerjee asked: “Why are we acting only now in April, though we had one full year?”

He made this observation when Additional Solicitor General R. Sankaranarayanan told the Madras High Court that the resurgence of the second wave of the virus was “unexpected”.

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The Chief Justice also questioned the vaccine pricing and the alleged crash of an app for registration of vaccination for persons over 18 years of age scheduled to start on May 1. The Additional Solicitor General answered that he would submit his reply on Friday.

The first bench of Chief Justice Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy was hearing the issue of alleged shortage of Remdesivir vaccine, beds and ventilators and diversion of oxygen cylinders to other states when it came up for further hearing on Thursday, PTI reported.

The High Court had taken up the matter on its own based on newspaper reports.

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The Tamil Nadu Government earlier told the High Court that there was no need to impose a lockdown in the state on Saturday, a day ahead of the election result day, stating that May 1 is already a holiday on account of May Day.