New Delhi: The Supreme Court has set up a National Task Force(NTF) comprising of twelve health experts including the cabinet secretary to Union Of India to ensure allocation of oxygen to different states and Union Territories on a scientific, rational and equitable basis. The court has given NTF the liberty to draw upon the human resources of the centre for consultation and information.
The bench comprising of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice MR Shah has asked the centre, states, ministries, agencies and departments to provide complete and real-time data for facilitating NTF's work and has directed all the hospitals and health care institutions as well to cooperate.
"The rationale for constituting a task force at a national level is to facilitate a public health response to the pandemic based on scientific and specialised domain knowledge. We expect that the leading experts in the country shall associate with the work of the task force both as members and resource persons. This will facilitate a meeting of minds and the formulation of scientific strategies to deal with an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The establishment of this task force will enable the decision-makers to have inputs that go beyond finding ad hoc solutions to the present problem. The likely future course of the pandemic must be taken into contemplation at the present time. This will ensure that projected future requirements can be scientifically mapped in the present and may be modulated in the light of experiences gained," read the order.
Read: Pakistan blinks, says Article 370 India's internal matter
NTF is tasked with finding effective responses to the pandemic which includes assessing and making recommendations for the whole country to allocate oxygen, formulate a methodology for allocation of oxygen, recommendations for periodical review, facilitating audits, suggest remedial measures for the availability of medicines, facilitate the use of technology for the process, etc.
The court emphasised audits so that allocated supplies are made available and bottlenecks in the distribution are identified. "The purpose of the audit is not to scrutinise the decisions made in good faith by doctors while treating their patients," observed the judges.
Read: NTPC stations in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh chip in for fight against COVID-19
Court has asked the centre to continue with the present practice of making allocations of oxygen until the NTF submits its recommendations on proposes modalities. It asked the task force to submit its recommendations to the court also from time to time.
Court has directed the task force to commence work immediately and take up the oxygen supply issue within a week. The tenure will be of six months initially. The centre is directed to appoint two nodal officers for facilitating the task force.
The matter will be heard again on 17th May.
Read: NTPC stations in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh chip in for fight against COVID-19
