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The Supreme Court has said there should not be any clampdown on citizens communicating their grievances related to COVID-19 on social media. SC also termed the second wave of COVID-19 as a national crisis.
The bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud is hearing a suo motu case on issues related to the oxygen supply, drug supply, and vaccine policy in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The apex court said, “We want to make it very clear that if citizens communicate their grievance on social media, then it cannot be said it is wrong information. We do not want any clampdown of information. We will treat it as a contempt of court if such grievances are considered for action.”
If any action is taken against such posts by citizens in distress, we will treat it as contempt of the court, the bench also comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat said.
“There should be free flow of information, we should hear voices of citizen,” said a bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud, and asked the Centre, states and all DGPs not to take any action against anyone posting a shortage of oxygen, beds or doctors as spreading rumour.
“Let a strong message go to all the states and DGP of states that clampdown of info is contrary to basic precepts,” the court said.
The Bench headed by Justice Chandrachud also asked the Centre regarding the quantity of oxygen made available to critical states.
