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The Supreme Court has today stayed the order of the Himachal Pradesh High Court appointing a District Monitoring committee for monitoring the Covid-19 situation stating that the same guideline cannot be made applicable to the whole state.

A divisional bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice BV Nagarathna noted, "The Committee constituted by the High Court is not an expert Committee consisting of domain experts."

The plea has been filed by the Himachal Pradesh Government challenging order of the High Court establishing district monitoring committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner and Secretary of the District Legal Service Authority, wherein President of the Bar Association will be a member of the Committee.

The High Court had noted, "We are aware of the work done by the state in this regard and we are also conscious of the fact that much more is required to be done. Issues pertaining to every district varies vis-à-vis others. There cannot be the same set of guidelines for the entire state. It is for this purpose we feel that a local monitoring committee will be more useful in such circumstances"

Advocate Abhinav Mukerji appearing for the State submitted that we are doing everything possible, including one at the basic community level to manage COVID19 cases along with the three committees regarding logistics, state committee, etc. 

Mukerji further added that we are the first state where 100% population above the age of 18 years is vaccinated with its first dose and the second dose of all the people above 18 years will be completed by November 2021.

However, the bench while staying the order of the High Court issued notice and noted that the pendency of these proceedings shall not restrain the High Court from monitoring the steps taken by the Government with regards to the COVID19.

Case Title: State of HP and Ors. Vs. Tarun Pathak