[Coronavirus] PIL for equitable distribution, price control of face masks and hand sanitizers: Supreme Court issues notice to Centre

The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre on a plea for directions to ensure the fair distribution and price control of face masks and sanitizers during the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic..The Bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and S Abdul Nazeer took up the PIL filed by the organisation Justice For Rights for hearing via video conferencing today..The petition sought a direction for the authorities to implement the orders passed by the Centre as well as the Government of NCT Delhi as regards price control and management of essential commodities such as masks and sanitizers in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic..Given the nature of spread of the novel corona virus, which is highly contagious, people are required to wash their hands with soaps or rub them with alcohol or alcohol-based sanitizer for disinfecting them. Face masks are also advised to be worn by individuals as a precautionary measure, according to various advisories issued..In light of the sudden rise in demand of these items, the petitioner contends that that various chemists and pharmacies have begun profiteering and selling these items at a price higher than the MRP. The petition says,."...the sale of face masks and hand sanitizer saw a great increase and with the increase in demand several chemist and medical outlets in an attempt to defraud and profit from the present outbreak have started affixing their own prices over the Minimum Retail Price (MRP), over which no product is allowed to be sold in India.".To curb the overpricing, notifications were issued by the government to maintain and control the price of these items. However, it is the petitioner's case that despite such orders and notifications, "several chemists throughout the country have not reduced the price.".It is also alleged that the authorities, including the Police, have adopted a casual and nonchalant approach towards the issue and that they have not dealt with it with due seriousness. .Therefore, the intervention of the Court is required to direct the concerned authorities to discharge their duties effectively to ensure that price control and management is followed in conformity with the orders and notifications issued by the Government, the petitioner states,.The Court will hear the matter next on Monday, April 3..Read Order