[COVID-19 crisis] "All you are showing is that things will be hunky-dory in June, did Central govt consult experts?" Madras High Court

The Madras High Court Chief Justice on Thursday questioned the Central government on why it had let its guard down in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, going on to comment that the situation continues to be dire despite a year of lockdown. .The oral observations came during the fag end of the hearing in the suo motu case registered by the Madras High Court to check on the COVID-19 management in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. .May stop vote-counting process "then and there" if COVID-19 norms are breached: Madras High Court warns.During the course of making submissions on the supply of Remdesivir, the Court quizzed Additional Solicitor General R Sankaranarayanan on why all his submissions focused on the situation getting better in June, whereas measures were required now. .Whereas the ASG observed that the recent surge of COVID-19 was not expected, Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee responded by asking what the government has been doing for the past 14 months. ."All that you are showing that things will be hunky-dory in June... Did they (Centre) consult experts? ... All that we see here is that 'June it will be better'.. we are all depending on chance, without doing anything," he observed.Whereas the ASG assured the Court that a team of experts are looking into the aspect of whether further COVID-19 surges should be expected, the Chief Justice went on to comment, ."I have not met any respectable doctor who had advised the guard to be dropped over the last few months... Even if doctors have not advised, who are the experts Centre has been consulting? We are in this state of absolute despair despite having lockdown for most of last year!".The Court further pointed out that there are more recent concerns as well, over the pricing of COVID-19 vaccinations, particularly for the 18-45 years age group, the mad rush for the vaccines and the COWIN website crashing. .Under-privileged may not be able to afford COVID-19 Vaccine at Rs. 400-600: Madras High Court to Central govt.The ASG assured that he will obtain instructions in the matter tomorrow. The Court, in turn, cautioned that all these aspects have to be dealt with in a planned manner, and not on ad-hoc basis.."There cannot be an ad hocism about that ... We do not mean any disrespect, (but) we had to go in a planned, informed manner after consulting experts, not ad hocism", the Chief Justice said. .The matter will be taken up again tomorrow, when the Court is expected to hear submissions on aspects suchs as: 1. COVID-19 protocol on the May 2 vote-counting day, particularly with respect to ensuring that crowds of media personnel are regulated. Appearing for the Election Commission, Senior Advocate G Rajagopalan has submitted that detailed instructions have been issued and an affidavit on the same is being filed in Court today. 2. Shortage of beds: Advocate NGR Prasad submitted today that the beds in Madurai are expected to run out in the next three days, whereas in Chennai, it is reported that there are no beds. 3. Remdesivir supply: Senior Advocate P Wilson today submitted that difficulties are being faced owing to only one Remdesivir sale counter being set up at Kilpauk, Chennai. 4. Oxygen supply: Advocate General Vijay Narayan submitted that the State has permitted Vedanta's Thoothukudi Sterlite plant to reopen for the purpose of producing oxygem. 4. Ventilators.5. COVID-19 checks are State borders..Read a live account of the hearing today below: