No Curbs On COVID Complaints On Social Media: Supreme Court

New Delhi: Amid the unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, the Supreme Court on Friday said no state should clamp down on information if citizens communicate their grievances on social media.

The court further said that it will “treat this as contempt if any citizen is harassed” on this count.

A bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud gave the directive during a suo moto hearing in on COVID-19 issues related to oxygen supply, drug supply and vaccine policy.

“If citizens communicate their grievances on social media, we do not want clampdown on information. Let us hear the voices of citizens. We will treat this as contempt if any citizen is harassed if they want bed or oxygen we are in human crisis,” the bench said.

The SC also questioned the government over the pricing of vaccines. “Why is the government not buying 100 per cent of doses produced in this time? Why should there be two prices for the centre and the states… what is the rationale,” Justice Chandrachud was quoted as saying by NDTV.