The Supreme Court today heard the plea filed by the Centre for Accountability & Systematic Change seeking imposition of Financial Emergency and held that it would be inappropriate to impose Financial Emergency in the current situation.
The Centre for Accountability & Systematic Change had filed the PIL before the Supreme Court seeking directions to impose the Financial Emergency under Article 360 of the Constitution to safeguard the Rule of Law in India, which is being threatened by arbitrary actions of States and local authorities during COVID-19 epidemic.
The petitioner also mentioned in its petition that due to the lockdown, the economic activities have come to a standstill as well for which financial package of Rs. 1.7 Lakh crore has been announced by the Finance Minister.
“This is biggest emergency in independent India and it must be addressed as per Constitutional provisions through unified command between Central and State Governments. This will be required not only to defeat the war against coronavirus but also in recovery of the Indian Economy after Lockdown is over.”
The Petitioner in his petition contended that, “even after announcement, different States and police authorities are continuing to take their own action under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 in the guise of orders issued by the Central Government which amounts to constitutional fraud.”
The Supreme Court has adjourned the matter for 2 weeks.
-India Legal Bureau