Day Before Crucial SC Hearing, Justice DY Chandrachud Tests COVID Positive

New Delhi: Supreme Court (SC) judge, Justice DY Chandrachud has tested positive for coronavirus, administrators of the apex court said on Wednesday.

Chandrachud is heading the SC bench which is scanning the Union government’s management of the deadly COVID-19 second wave.

The three-member bench, also comprising justices L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat, was due to take up the suo motu matter on Thursday. In light of Justice Chandrachud’s illness, it remains to be seen if the other two judges resume hearing of case, or the case gets deferred.

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana may also opt to reconstitute the bench with a senior judge heading it.

Thursday may be declared a holiday if Eid is celebrated tomorrow, depending on sighting of the moon.

On Monday, the three-judge bench said: “Our server is down today. We judges had discussion among ourselves and have decided to take up the matter on Thursday.”

Another bench headed by Justice Chandrachud had earlier said the Union government’s policy on allocating medical oxygen supplies to states needed a “complete revamp”.

It constituted a National Task Force (NTF) to assess and recommend the need and distribution of oxygen in the country.