Kriti Agrawal
A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directives to use the PM Cares Fund to purchase the Covid-19 vaccine, establish oxygen plants, and other needed equipment at district hospitals across the country.
The petition, submitted by Supreme Court lawyer Viplava Sharma, requested that the bought oxygen plants or generators and other equipment be installed in 738 district hospitals where Covid-19 patients receive free medical care.
It further sought the Court to order the center and state governments to ensure that all private and charitable hospitals within their jurisdiction buy, construct, and commission medical oxygen facilities for their patients.
The plea also asked the Court to order state governments to build electric and other types of crematoriums in all cities, as well as to maintain and improve existing electric crematoriums.
The petition stated that, “Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) from all states should be directed to spend their MP/MLA money in a disciplined and transparent manner in order to best serve their respective constituencies.”
The petition challenged the central government’s April 24 announcement, which limits the exemption from import duty provided to medical equipment for a three-month period.
Sharma contended that, “Three months is too short a period from the aspect of logistics involved in importing this highly complex medical equipment in India by over 300 concerned renowned Hospitals throughout the country.”