Former Law Minister Dr. Ashwani Kumar Writes to CJI On Worsening COVID-19 Pandemic Situation. Seeks Sou Moto Directions to The Centre and States
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Expressing a deep concern over the rising COVID-19 cases in the country,former Union Law Minister and Senior Advocate Suprem Court Dr. Ashwani Kumar has urged the Apex Court to issue Suo-moto directions to centre and states to stop the export of Vaccine and to ban political rallies, protest assemblies, religious events like the Kumbh Mela and other festive congregations involving more than 50people till the situation is under control.
Noting that the daily cases of infection had crossed 2 Lakh, Mr. Kumar Said, “It is officially acknowledged and medically confirmed that the threatening surge in the number of Corona cases, which is highest in the world.
He further submitted that This is a plea by a citizen and an officer of the Court, for this august Institution to take judicial notice of the extraordinary threat to human lives in the country following a devastating surge in the Corona cases, and to issue suitable directions Suo-moto in the exercise of its plenary jurisdiction in pursuance of Article 21 of the Constitution.
Mr. Kumar further stated that the situation if more worsening day by day in the country One instance of the such super-spreading event is the recent Kumbh Mela being held in Haridwar, where almost 2,000 people have tested positive for the Coronavirus.
Other instances include the election campaigns being held in different states, where political leaders have held massive rallies flouting Covid rules.
Festivals have also been celebrated where there have been gatherings in huge numbers, once again flouting the Covid rules.
Such events have contributed significantly to the resurgence of Corona cases throughout the country.
The former law minister who articulated his position as a Citizen and an officer of the court, said that he neither has any effective action been taken by Central and State Governments to stop such gatherings nor have COVID-19 restrictions strictly been enforced.
The nation expects the highest Court of the country, as the designated protector of fundamental rights, to exercise its extraordinary jurisdiction in these troubled times and vindicate its role as custodian of the constitutional conscience.
This Court has, on several earlier and lesser occasions shown the way in non-adversarial public interest causes as the present one.
Clearly, as laid down by the Hon’ble Court in several of its celebrated pronouncements, the right to life stands at the pinnacle in the hierarchy of constitutional rights.
