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Justice For Rights Foundation And Others Petitioner(S) v. Union Of India And Others (S)
Factual and Procedural Background
The matter was heard by the Court through video conferencing. A writ petition was filed by Justice for Rights Foundation and others seeking directions to the respondents to ensure fair and equitable distribution of surgical/N95 masks and the sale and distribution of hand sanitizers and liquid soap, and to make these items available to the public at reasonable prices.
Legal Issues Presented
- Whether directions should be issued to ensure fair and equitable distribution of surgical/N95 masks and to regulate the availability and pricing of hand sanitizers and liquid soap so they are available to the public at reasonable prices.
Arguments of the Parties
Petitioners' Position (as stated in the petition)
- Sought directions to ensure fair and equitable distribution of surgical/N95 masks.
- Sought directions regarding the sale and distribution of hand sanitizers and liquid soap, including making such items available to the public at large at reasonable prices.
Respondents' Submission (Solicitor General)
- Appreciated the petitioners' concern regarding availability and distribution of surgical/N95 masks, noting these had been declared essential goods.
- Submitted that the Government of India had taken steps and issued directions regarding availability and distribution of surgical/N95 masks and also hand sanitizers and liquid soaps at minimum retail prices fixed by the Government.
- Submitted that a helpline operated through control rooms round the clock to respond to complaints from persons unable to secure surgical/N95 masks, hand sanitizers, and liquid soaps at the prices fixed by the Government of India.
Table of Precedents Cited
No precedents were cited in the provided opinion.
Court's Reasoning and Analysis
The Court recorded the Solicitor General's submissions that the Government of India had already taken steps by issuing directions on availability and distribution of surgical/N95 masks (declared essential goods) and on ensuring the availability of hand sanitizers and liquid soaps at minimum retail prices fixed by the Government. The Court also took note of the existence of a helpline operating round the clock to address complaints regarding non-availability of these items at the Government-fixed prices. On that basis, the Court expressed its expectation that complaints would be addressed promptly and disposed of the writ petition with these observations.
Holding and Implications
DISPOSED OF: The writ petition was disposed of with the Court's observations and expectation that complaints to the helpline would be addressed promptly. Any pending application was also disposed of.
Implications: The immediate effect was that no further directions were issued within this order beyond recording governmental steps and the existence of a complaint redressal mechanism. The decision, as provided, does not indicate that any new legal precedent was set.
The Court convened through Video Conferencing.
This Writ Petition has been filed by Justice for Rights Foundation and Ors. for direction to the respondents to ensure fair and equitable distribution of surgical /n95 masks and also the sale and distribution of hand sanitizers and liquid soap and to make such items available to the public at large at reasonable prices.
The learned Solicitor General appreciated the concern of the petitioners pertaining to the availability and distribution of surgical/n95 masks which have been declared as essential goods. He submitted that steps have been taken by the Government of India to issue directions regarding the availability and distribution of surgical/n95 masks as well as hand sanitizers and liquid soaps at their minimum retail prices fixed by the Government.
He further submits that there is a helpline provided at the control rooms which are working round the clock responding to complaints by persons who are not able to secure surgical/n95 masks and the hand sanitizers and liquid soaps at the prices fixed by the Government of India. We hope and trust that the complaints will be addressed promptly.
With the above observations the Writ Petition is disposed of. Pending application, if any stand disposed of.
(B. Parvathi) Court Master
(Anand Prakash) Court Master
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