The Supreme Court on Thursday sought a national plan from the government on tackling the shortage of COVID-19 medicines and oxygen. Taking note of the fact that these cases were being heard by six high courts, the top court decided to take up the matter and scheduled a hearing for Friday.

“A three-judge bench of Supreme Court, headed by CJI SA Bobde, asked the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to submit or inform it by providing a national plan, after taking into record the fact that at least 6 different High Courts have been hearing the matter,” ANI reports.

Also Read: Remdesivir for Rs 1 lakh, black marketeers feed off India’s COVID tragedy

The top court added that hearing by six different high courts on COVID-19 related issues may create some kind of confusion. “We find that there are 6 high courts — Delhi, Bombay, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Calcutta and Allahabad… they are exercising jurisdiction in best interest, but it is creating confusion and diversion of resources,” the Chief Justice said.

The top court will also examine judicial power of the high courts to declare lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic.

This comes a day after the Delhi High Court castigated the Centre for the scarcity of oxygen in city hospitals ordering it to “forthwith” provide oxygen by whatever means.

Also Read: Oxymeters, oxygen cans, steamers; Delhiites stock up amid COVID scare

“You are not exploring all avenues to augment oxygen supply. We don’t care, Beg, borrow or steal. It is a national emergency,” the high court told the Centre. The court added that it “seems human life is not important for the state”.

The high court was hearing a plea filed by Balaji Medical and Research Centre that runs and owns various hospitals in the name of Max. In the plea, the group said that if oxygen supply is not replenished immediately, lives of COVID patients would be endangered.