Application filed in Supreme Court calling for comprehensive Disaster Management Plan to combat COVID-19 pandemic

Two doctors have moved the Supreme Court seeking formulation of a comprehensive disaster management plan in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The plea calls for the implementation of a "National Plan" as under Section 11 of the Disaster Management Act..The application was taken up for hearing by the Supreme Court Bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and Ravindra Bhat on Wednesday, along with the petitions pertaining to provision of protective gear for doctors actively dealing with Coronavirus positive patients. .Government will walk the extra mile to protect doctors, Centre tells Supreme Court.When the Court heard the application today, it said that it would pass appropriate orders..The plea says that the need of the hour is for a national plan as under Section 11 of the Act, which can be "tailor made" to meet the requirements of COVID-19. The national plan "shall be based on all possible preventive and remedial steps so that the Health Care infrastructure of this Country does not collapse, in the event of a major outbreak." .The applicants elaborate why a "one nation one plan" approach is necessary at a time like this. It states, "If one person fails, the whole group fails and thus the interpretation of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, state by state lends itself to being the weakest link in the chain.".The doctors have also warned of dire consequences such as a steep rise in the number of COVID-19 positive cases, which could spiral into a high mortality rate in the present circumstances, where there is an acute shortage of protective gear, sub-standard PPE kits, and an absence of a national plan..Failure to devise a national plan at a time when India is grappling with a pandemic of this nature exposes our weak healthcare system, the application states. It adds that the lack of a plan will also result in severe deprivation of the rights of healthcare professionals.."The failure of the State and its instrumentality in bringing about an effective National Plan which could address and devise a systematic strategy to combat, prevent and contain the further spread of Covid 19 virus every passing day has resulted in denial and deprivation of Fundamental Rights of every individual."Application filed in Supreme Court.The absence of a national plan has left a desire for clarity on many aspects, including issues surrounding mode of treatment, lodging facilities, protective gear and testing kits, the application states. In this background, the applicants go on to make recommendations on what can be included in the national plan..These include procurement and provision of protective gear for health professionals, restoration of various sectors affected by lockdown, phased and staggered lifting of lockdown, among various others..The applicant doctors were represented by Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta with Advocates Nipun Saxena, Serena Sharma, and Mithu Jain..Read Application