All three Bombay High Court benches in Maharashtra seized of COVID matters after Aurangabad Bench registers suo motu case on COVID issues

All three Benches of the Bombay High Court in Maharashtra are seized of COVID related cases after the Aurangabad Bench on April 22 took suo motu cognizance of specific issues related to COVID-19 pandemic affecting Marathwada region of the State. .The principal Bench at Bombay and the Bench at Nagpur are already hearing cases related to COVID management. .The Aurangabad Bench initiated the suo-motu litigation based on newspaper reports, more particularly the local Marathi newspaper which highlighted the following issues..Issues faced by the survivors of COVID-19 deceased patients to run from pillar to post to collect various certificates for performing funeral rites. Black marketing of Remdesivir injections; vials been sold at exorbitant prices when the actual price by the companies is far lesser.Acute shortage of oxygen supply faced in the Marathwada region. (The court referred to a report of a Marathi newspaper in fact pointed out how an oxygen plant in Government medial hospital and college premises in Aurangabad is likely to face to an oxygen leak accident similar to the one occurred in Nashik on April 21, 2021).The Bench of Justice Ravindra V Ghuge and BU Debadwar appointed Advocate Satyajeet S Bora as the amicus curiae in the case. Bora assure the Court that he would prepare a criminal public interest litigation and tender it to the Court on April 26, 2021..Chief Public Prosecutor DR Kale submitted to the Court that the Central government decided on the quota for distribution for oxygen and Remdesivir injections to various States based on their population and the needs raised by each State..The Court made the following parties respondents in the case: Divisional Commissioner, Aurangabad;Commissioner of Police, Aurangabad;District Collectors of districts amenable to the jurisdiction of the Aurangabad Bench;Commissioners of Administrators of Municipal Corporations within the districts amenable to the Bench jurisdiction;District Superintendents of Police of such districts;Secretary, Public Health Department; andSecretary, Food and Drugs Department, Maharashtra.The Court was informed that the Supreme Court had also taken cognizance of the matters pertaining to the supply of oxygen and Remdesivir injections and they directed Bora to keep track of the said proceedings and inform the Bench if all matters are transferred to Supreme Court..The matter will be heard next on April 26, 2021..The Supreme Court had on Friday adjourned the hearing of the suo motu case initiated by it while clarifying that their order taking cognizance did not mean they were transferring of cases from High Courts to itself. .We never said a word and did not stop the High Courts: Supreme Court adjourns suo motu COVID-19 matter.Meanwhile the other benches of the Bombay High Court are also hearing pleas concerning COVID-19 issues. .Meanwhile, the Principal Bench of High Court which is hearing a plea against the alleged improper management of COVID-19 in Maharashtra suggested on April 22 that cigarettes and bidis be temporarily banned during the COVID-19 pandemic period considering it may have a correlation with the rise in COVID severe cases..The Nagpur Bench which is hearing a case which it had registered in 2020, had at a late night hearing on April 21 issued a slew of directions to provide immediate relief to COVID patients.