The Allahabad High Court will hear the plea seeking directions to Centre for setting up commission to assess the impact of Covid-19 on Indian economy on May 4.
A two-judge bench of Js. Karunesh Singh Pawar and Js. Pankaj Kumar Jaiswal directed the Petitioner to supply copy of complete set of petition to Respondent Union through email within 3 days. The matter shall be argued on maintainability of Petition on 4th May, 2020.
The Public Interest Litigation was filed by Dr. Shivji Shukla who is a practicing lawyer, for issuance of writ of Mandamus directing respondent Union of India through Ministry of health and Ministry of Finance to constitute a Committee or a Commission to assess the impact of COVID-19 virus pandemic on the Indian economy and to quantify in monetary terms the losses already incurred.
The second prayer is to issue direction to Centre to constitute another committee or a Commission to assess and quantify in monetary terms the claims of the people who have suffered harm and injury in one form or the other resulting from the negligent and reckless conduct of the respondents.
The Court stated that at present, effect of the COVID-19 is going on and, therefore, no such relief as prayed in this Public Interest Litigation can be granted to the petitioner nor we issue any notice. Court also indicated that appropriate course for the petitioner is to withdraw this writ petition or to argue it on the question of maintainability.
Sri S.B. Pandey, learned Assistant Solicitor General of India for the respondent Union submitted that as the copy of the complete set of the writ petition has not been supplied to him, therefore, he is not in a position to say anything in the matter and prays that a direction be issued to the petitioner to supply a copy of complete set of the writ petition through e-mail to him so that he may take instructions in the matter.
-India Legal Bureau