The Supreme Court has raised the National Task Force (NTF) with a team of twelve members to ease the public health response to COVID-19 focusing on scientific and specialized domain knowledge. The NTF will precisely superscribe problems relating to rationalizing of oxygen allotment to different states and also review and advise measures to make sure there is the availability of the necessary drugs and medicines, and take on remedial measures to make sure readiness for future emergencies. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah passed the order, critically elaborating the hypothesis of raising the team NTF, the court said that the foundation of such task force will authorize the decision-makers to have a knowledge of the insights which would go beyond finding ad-hoc solutions keeping in view of the present circumstances.
The tenancy of the task force will of six months at first. The Centre has been asked to supply all necessary aid to the task force and nominate two nodal officers to facilitate its work.
The Hon’ble Court ordered that “ This will make sure that projected future demands can be scientifically mapped in the present and maybe modulated in the light of experiences gained. The institution of the task force will furnish the Union government with inputs and plan of action for meeting the challenges of the pandemic on a transparent and professional basis, in the present and in the future,”.
The Hon’ble Court also highlighted that it will make sure that the forecasted future requirements can be scientifically depicted in the present scenario and also may be regulated in the light of experience.
Further, the Court mentioned that The nodal officers will also be accountable for arranging logistics, including communication with members and organizing the virtual meetings, of the task force.
