'Not Stopping High Courts But Can't Be Silent Spectator': Supreme Court

"There are certain national issues to be dealt by the Supreme Court. At a time of national crisis Supreme Court cannot be silent spectator," the Supreme Court said.

The Supreme Court today again clarified that while taking up the shortage of oxygen, medicines, vaccines and other supplies in the Covid crisis, it did not intend to stop High Courts from hearing petitions in various states. The court said it intended to play a complimentary role and could not be a silent spectator at this time. "There are certain national issues to be dealt by the Supreme Court. At a time of national crisis Supreme Court cannot be silent spectator," the Supreme Court said. "We are not preventing the High Courts from hearing. The Supreme Court intends to play a complimentary role," said the three-judge bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, LN Rao and Ravindra S Bhat. The Supreme Court last week decided to take up the problems related to distribution of oxygen, vaccines and medicines across the country amid rising Covid cases and issued notice to the Centre. Calling for a "national plan", it said six High Courts across the country were hearing related petitions but there was confusion and diversion of resources.