[Coronavirus] Publicise measures to curb black-marketing of hand sanitisers and face masks, act strictly against violators: SC to govt

The Supreme Court today directed the Central government to publicise measures taken to control the price of hand sanitisers and face masks, which are used as precautionary measures against the spread of Coronavirus..The Court has also directed that strict action be taken against those violating the government's notification issued on the pricing of the products. .The Court had, on Wednesday, issued notice to the Centre in a plea seeking directions to ensure the fair distribution and price control of face masks and sanitizers during the COVID-19 pandemic..[Coronavirus] PIL for equitable distribution, price control of face masks and hand sanitizers: Supreme Court issues notice to Centre.The Bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Deepak Gupta today took up the matter for hearing via video conference..Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the Court that the government was looking into the matter, and that it would publicise helpline numbers to effectively implement its notification controlling the price of hand sanitisers and masks..The petitioner organisation, Justice For Rights Foundation, through its founder Satyam Singh Rajput, raised concern that though the government has taken certain steps on the issue, the same are not being implemented in a timely and effective manner. This is required for controlling the spread of the pandemic, it was asserted..The Court was also urged to make helpline numbers public. Further, it was prayed that the police and concerned authorities be advised to take immediate and strict action against the black-marketing and hoarding of masks and sanitisers. .The other two petitioners in the matter are Advocate Amit Kumar Sharma and Prateek Sharma, a final year student from Delhi University. .The petition had 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 the COVID-19 pandemic..Given the nature of the Coronavirus, 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 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..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.