Never stalled HC proceedings on oxygen supply: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde, expressed disappointment over the criticisms faced for having initiated a suo moto cognizance on oxygen supply crisis, hospital beds, and shortage of the anti-viral drug Remdesivir in hospitals.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde, expressed disappointment over the criticisms faced for having initiated a suo moto cognizance on oxygen supply crisis, hospital beds, and shortage of the anti-viral drug Remdesivir in hospitals.

The bench noted that six High Courts -- Delhi, Bombay, Sikkim, MP, Calcutta, and Allahabad dealt with issues related to Covid management and that it was creating confusion. Therefore it decided to take a suo moto cognizance and transfer some cases to itself, instead of staying proceedings in the HCs.

Opposing the court's order, Supreme Court Bar Association had moved an Interlocutory Appeal (IA) in SC saying that HCs would be able to deal with the matter in a better way.

Some senior advocates had also made remarks against the top court for having taken suo moto cognizance. Today the court observed that even before the order was released, it was criticized for something that was not even there in the order.

Though Senior Advocate Harish Salve was appointed as the amicus curie, today, he recused himself saying that there are allegations of him being appointed because of his personal relations with the CJI since his school and college days.

Salve added that it's a very sensitive matter that has come up before the court and he does not want the case to be decided with such allegations made against him.

Expressing displeasure over the allegations, CJI said that in the future judiciary will have to keep in mind that an Amicus is appointed in an impartial manner.

To this, the Solicitor General of India (SG) Tushar Mehta sought time to file a reply and the matter was adjourned for hearing on Tuesday.