The Supreme Court has weighed on the testing for COVID-19, the disease caused by serious acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) – often referred to as coronavirus. The country’s apex legal body has ruled that COVID-19 tests must be free of charge. The interim decision applies to all laboratories in the country with accreditation by the […]
Supreme Court
Psychiatric hospitals: The Indians ‘illegally detained’
In 36 psychiatric hospitals across 24 states, thousands of Indians continue to stay even after reporting positive treatment outcomes according to a recent report published in The Times of India. This is what a petition filed before the Supreme Court by advocate Guarav Kumar Bansal alleges. “Holding [patients] indefinitely in the hospital amounts to illegal […]
Unregulated medical devices to be brought before the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court will hear on unregulated medical devices tomorrow, ANI reports. Justice N. V. Ramana will head a bench to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Dr Rohit Jain seeking government action on online sale of medical devices – specifically glucometers and in vitro diagnostic medical devices. Unregulated medical devices, the suit […]
A cigarette ban: Could it happen in India? NGOs are working to make it a reality.
Two non-government organisations (NGOs) are in the process of moving an appeal before the Supreme Court for India to enact a cigarette ban, in the wake of the Government’s prohibition of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Vaping became illegal in India in September with the promulgation of an ordinance by the Union Government, which has […]
Strike action by doctors in the sights of the Supreme Court
Strike action by doctors has found itself in the crosshairs of the Supreme Court, who have appealed to the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Government of India on the subject. Numerous instances of nationwide strike action by doctors have been witnessed in India this year, with reasons varying from violence against them and a […]
Odd-even scheme challenged in the Supreme Court
The odd-even scheme — designed to curb pollution in Delhi by taking cars off the road — is being challenged in the Supreme Court. The initiative permits private vehicles to run only on certain days, depending on whether or not their license plates end in an odd or even numbers. The scheme has been rolled […]
Delhi pollution: Supreme Court fumes as the city chokes
Delhi pollution has reached “unbearable” levels in the words of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, amidst plummeting air quality and the worst smog the National Capital Region has witnessed in almost three years. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi pollution – based on a 24-hour average – stood at 494 on the Air Quality […]
Supreme Court to hear on pollution Monday
As pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) reaches emergency proportions, the Supreme Court will hear a report on the issue prepared by the Environment (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA). The Supreme Court constituted the EPCA to monitor air quality and effect improvements in the NCR. As the Air Quality Index (AQI) score for Delhi […]
Sexual harassment in India: A crisis
Sexual harassment is frequently overlooked in India, even in the age of the MeToo movement which saw survivors share their stories and led to the downfall of numerous public figures worldwide, in politics, business, the entertainment industry, and beyond. India was no exception to this trend, with women from all walks of life sharing their […]
India’s abortion law: Timeframe will not be extended, Government says
Changing India’s abortion law to extend the timeframe within which a woman can have an abortion is not a step the Centre is willing to take, the Supreme Court has been informed. A blanket extension for the twenty-week window in which an abortion may be performed cannot be justified because of the right to life […]