Will treat action against social media Covid appeals as ‘contempt of court’: SC

    The Supreme Court said on Friday no state can register a first information report (FIR) or take any action against people appealing for help or putting out their grievances on social media or elsewhere during the coronavirus pandemic. "We will treat this as contempt of our court. Let us hear the voices of our citizens and not clampdown," the top court said. “It is a grave concern to me as a citizen or judge. If citizens communicate their grievances on social media, we do not want to clamp down on information,” Justice DY Chandrahud said during the hearing as case of Covid-19 surged across the country.

The top court also said that the healthcare infrastructure has been inherited in the last 70 years and so the proceedings are not to criticise the Centre or states. "We are concerned only about the health of the people and it is not to pass a value judgment," Chandrachud said. He also said that the Centre should show investment by it to ramp up the manufacture of vaccines. “This will be the most important intervention by the central government when private manufacturers The Supreme Court also asked what has been done to provide treatment to healthcare professionals who are contacting coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The top court on April 22 took suo motu cognizance of the "alarming situation" in connection with various health emergencies including oxygen shortage, during the pandemic and issued notice to the Centre seeking a response on kinds of immediate and effective action it can take to handle such situation. During the previous hearing, the court asked the Centre to present and apprise it as to whether a national plan can be prepared to handle this worrisome situation. have been funded to produce vaccines,” he added.