New Delhi | The outbreak of the second wave of coronavirus continues in India. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has formed a 12-member National Task Force (NTF). This task force will undertake an assessment based on the need, availability and distribution of medical oxygen for the entire country. The task force aims to allocate medical oxygen to states and union territories on a scientific, rational and just basis.
Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and M.R. A bench of Shah said, there has been a consensus that there is a need to ensure that medical oxygen is allocated to states and union territories on a scientific, rational and equitable basis. At the same time, flexibility should allow for meeting unforeseen demands due to emergencies that may arise within the allocated areas.
The apex court said it is necessary that an effective and transparent mechanism is established within the central government for the purpose of allocating medical oxygen to all states and union territories during the Covid-19 epidemic.
The Supreme Court also said that the Central Government has agreed to set up a National Task Force (National Task Force) to make the process effective. This task force will be tasked with creating a methodology for the scientific allocation of oxygen to states and union territories, among other things.
The bench said that setting up this task force will help decision-makers to get input.
“The possible future course of the pandemic must be considered at the present time,” the bench said. This will ensure that the projected needs of the future can be mapped scientifically in the present and can be modified in light of the experiences gained.
The Supreme Court stated that the task force will provide input and strategy to meet the challenges of the epidemic on a transparent and professional basis for now and for the future. The task force will formulate mechanisms to oxygenate states on scientific, rational and equitable grounds.
Task Force Members:
(1) Dr. Bhabatosh Biswas, Former Vice-Chancellor, West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Kolkata
(2) Dr. Devendra Singh Rana, Chairman, Board of Management, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi
(3) Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, President and Executive Director, Narayana Healthcare, Bengaluru
(4) Dr. Gagandeep Kang, Professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu
(5) Dr. J. V. Peter, Director, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu.
(6) Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director, Medanta Hospital and Heart Institute, Gurugram.
(7) Dr. Rahul Pandit, Director, Critical Care Medicine and ICU, Fortis Hospital, Mulund (Mumbai) and Kalyan (Maharashtra).
(8) Dr. Soumitra Rawat, President and Head, Department of Surgical Gastroenterology and Liver Transplantation, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi.
(9) Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin, Senior Professor and Director, Department of Hepatology, Director, Institute of Liver and Biliary Science (ILBS), Delhi.
(10) Dr. Zarir F. Udwadia, Consultant Chest Physician, Hinduja Hospital, Breach Candy Hospital and Parsi General Hospital, Mumbai.
(11) Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (ex-officio member)
(12) Convenor of National Task Force, who will also be a member, will be the Cabinet Secretary of the Central Government.
The court said that this task force would be at liberty to prepare human resources of the central government for consultation and preparation of information. Apart from this, these teams can adopt their own methods of working. The bench further said that this team of experts had to prepare for this reason, so that the country could prosper in this difficult time of the epidemic.
It is hoped that after the move of the Supreme Court, the discrimination complaints of the states will end.
