Pre-cum-Mains GS Foundation Program for UPSC 2026 | Starting from 14th Nov. 2024 Click Here for more information
What is the News?
The Supreme Court has said that there should not be any coercive action against any citizen. This is especially for citizens who are putting out emergency calls on social media for seeking medical help for COVID-19.
Background:
- Uttar Pradesh government had recently ordered strict civil and criminal action against citizens. This is for making false appeals on social media for seeking help for COVID-19
- But against the UP government order, the Supreme Court recently issued the following observations.
Key observations on seeking medical help for COVID-19:
- The Supreme Court has warned the State governments and the police against taking any action on the spread of information from the citizens affected by Covid-19.
- Further, the court also warned the government and police for taking actions on the request of help through social media from citizens affected by COVID-19.
- The court has said that any move to punish citizens actions on social media to seek help for oxygen cylinders, COVID-19 drugs, beds and hospitals would attract contempt of court action.
- Further, the court has also referred that the free flow of information during the 1970 famine enabled the government to tackle problems effectively. But the restriction of information during the 1918 pandemic created troubles for the government.
- Lastly, the court has also told the States that this was a time of great crisis. Hence, empathy and action should be the rule of the day.
Source: The Hindu
