[BREAKING] Madras High Court to take up suo motu case on reports of Remdesivir diversion, Oxygen supply today

The Madras High Court today indicated that it is proposing to take up suo motu a case to check on Tamil Nadu government's handling of issues arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. .In this regard, the Court placed reliance on certain media reports relating to diversion of Remdesivir drug and adequacy of Oxygen supply. .In particular, Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee today referred to a report in the Tamil edition of the Hindu on Remdesivir being diverted to private entities and of other reports indicating that there is shortage in supply of Oxygen and that Oxygen is being diverted to other States. .After requesting Advocate General Vijay Narayan to join the virtual proceedings this morning, Chief Justice Banerjee told the AG:"We propose to take it up in the second half before anything else ... We don't want to add to the confusion. We want to put you on notice before so you can tell us what measures are being taken. Within the State also, we have sufficient industries that can be required to manufacture Oxygen on a daily basis. Oxygen is a basic thing. The State is also well equipped to transport Oxygen ...".The Court emphasised that it is only endeavouring to ensure that the State is on the top of things so that the crisis unfolding in other State does not take place in Tamil Nadu. ."We repeat, we don't want to add to the confusion, but we want to be satisfied that the State is on the top of it. Don't create a situation that is there in other States. We will take this matter at 2.15. Please be advised accordingly," Chief Justice Banerjee said. .Later in the forenoon session, the Court made sure to put the Additional Solicitor General on notice as well. ASG R Sankaranarayanan has been asked to be present for the afternoon hearing, with the Chief Justice indicating that the Court proposes to look into matters of the distribution and supply of Remdesivir, oxygen, ventilators and COVID-19 vaccination. .The Delhi High Court, the Bombay High Court, the Gujarat High Court, the Patna High Court and the Allahabad High Court are among the High Courts that have recently stepped in to monitor the handling of the second COVID-19 wave in the respective States. .An order passed by the Allahabad High Court on the issue, by which it imposed a lockdown in certain districts of Uttar Pradesh, was, however, set aside by the Supreme Court a day later.