Social distancing given up in all gatherings: Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court, on Thursday, said that there have been large public gatherings — political, religious, ceremonial — where the social distancing has been given a go-bye and there is no appropriate mechanism to check such social gatherings.

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan and comprising Justices R. Subhash Reddy and M.R. Shah said: "It has been pointed out that guidelines with regard to wearing of masks and keeping social distancing are not being followed in almost all of the States."

Citing the swelling crowds in vegetable markets, where people do not maintain six-feet social distancing, the bench noted that the State governments' affidavits showing positive things cannot make it happy, and instead the Court is concerned as to how the ground situation could be improved.

It also said that even though there are stringent regulations including imposing of fine on non-wearing of masks, yet the desired results have not been achieved.

The bench said that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and other counsel appearing for various States have requested time to give appropriate suggestions in the above regard so that appropriate directions may be issued by this Court to implement the guidelines and to ensure their compliance.

These suggestions are supposed to be submitted by December 7.

The observations were made by the top Court in a suomoto case in the proper treatment of COVID-19 patients and dignified handling of dead bodies in the hospitals.

Mehta further said that Delhi has a similar surge and Maharashtra is also showing signs of concern and Punjab too has started night curfew. "We have shifted 75 doctors and paramedics from other places to Delhi," he said.

Senior advocate K.V. Viswanathan, representing the Delhi government, said that the State government has taken important steps, 450 COVID crematorium facilities are there and over 5,000 ICU beds.

At this, Justice Bhushan said: "What is the mechanism to address all of this?... you just collect the data from hospitals." Viswanathan replied that the Delhi Chief Secretary is working overtime and assured more information on measures taken will be provided to the top Court.

The bench noted that senior advocate GauravAgrawal pointed out that in Himachal Pradesh, there are several issues like lack of oxygen, lack of beds etc.

"Issue notice to the State of Himachal Pradesh to file a status report regarding treatment of COVID patients in different hospitals, infrastructure and facilities available therein," said the top Court, as it fixed the matter for further hearing on December 9. (IANS)

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