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Judicial Policy For The Covid-19 Pandemic In India In Comparative Legal

Perspective

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DOI: 10.31838/ijpr/2021.13.1.050

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ISSN 0975-2366
DOI:https://doi.org/10.31838/ijpr/2021.13.01.050
Research Article

Judicial Policy for The Covid-19 Pandemic in

Comparative Legal Perspective
M.Z.M. NOMANI1, ZAFAR HUSSAIN2, RENU DHAWAN3
1
Professor, Faculty of Law, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202001(U.P./India)
2
Professor & Principal, Institute of Law & Research, Faridabad (Haryana/India)
3
Director, Zafar Judicial Academy, Faridabad (Haryana/India)
E-Mail: zafarnomani@rediffmail.com
Received: 06.08.20, Revised: 10.09.20, Accepted: 08.10.20

Abstract: The right to health and equity is the paramount concern of the State,
especially in times of epidemic and pandemic. The nationwide lockdown and
COVID-19 has witnessed a series of judicial inte3rvention in health right and
equity. Although there is a settled jurisprudence concerning health right and
entitlement, the current streak of judicial innovation represents a novel discourse
in the understanding of the public health administration and governance in India.
An inquiry into the judicial policy of the epidemic-pandemic in the comparative
jurisdiction seems fascinating in deepening our understanding of the state
expediency and citizens liberty. The precedents in Gibbons v. Ogden, Louisiana
State Board of Health Case, Jew Ho v. Williamson and Wong Wai v. Williamson
deepens the understanding of the public health administration and governance.
The rulings of Indian Supreme Court in Alakh Alok Srivastava v. Union of India,
Shashank Deo Sudhi v. Union of India, suo motu cognizance of COVID-19 Testing
and Sachin Jain v. Union of India also open a new vista of health right and justice
in India.
Keywords: Humanitarian Crisis, Health Right, Health Equity, Health Care,
Epidemic-Pandemic, COVID-19

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 exposed Indian populations to vulnerable and health access and care. The collateral damage
of the epidemic-pandemic is global and affecting all strata of societies. The crisis is advancing global
knowledge and rigorous research on COVID-19 especially fostering health equity [1]. Though India has lower
levels of mortality, COVID-19 pandemic has a cascading impact on the economy and society. The series of
national lockdown from March to September 2020 made public health governance on trial besides access
health services [2]. The sanctioning regime under Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897
and Disaster Management Act, 2005 stifled citizen rights and liberty [3]. The relief and rehabilitative
package envisaged under Section 12 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 is yet to reach to people despite
the declaration of COVID-19 pandemic national catastrophe and calamity. The government has announced
an economic package for the economy, free food grains to migrant workers for two months, subsidized loans
to those in the informal sector and small farmers. The direct cash transfers to 30 million senior citizens and
200 million poor women for the next three months besides cereals and pulses to them for the next three
months are also part of the rehabilitative package. The paper takes an appraisal of the judicial policy for
the COVID-19 pandemic in India in comparative perspective. It delves deep into American Supreme Court
rulings as well as Indian Supreme Court rulings to draw a judicial strategy for the health right and equity in
COVID-19 pandemic.

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