Social Media: India's New Epidemic

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's course correction on national TV was not the mea culpa that his critics expected, but rather an exercise in blame-sharing. Government and ruling party spin doctors were quick to blame the social media for misleading the public regarding the government's intentions and actions.

- Inderjit Badhwar

OUR cover story this week is a subdued yet trenchant analysis of the Supreme Court's stellar role in coaxing, cajoling and goading the executive branch into making policy changes designed to prepare and arm the administration with more effective methods and tools to beat back the ravages of the Corona onslaught that have debilitated India's health and economic well being.

As the writer Dr G.V. Rao observes: Courts cannot be expected to be mute spectators in such dire and pathetic circumstances when there was a failure of the government to anticipate these dreadful times, falling short of relevant medical supplies and infrastructure. It was indeed a shame that while India holds the Chair to the WHO and our health minister presides there we were shamed as the nation with the highest Covid infections and death rates. The centre's policy came under attack and hence required scrutiny on the anvil of the constitutional provisions that are the bedrock of our democracy, such as Article-21 Right to Life and Article 14 Right to Equality.

The Supreme Court came to the rescue of the nation by intervening with a statesman-like approach to examine the allegations and shortcomings of the government's overall Covid-handling policies. In these unprecedented circumstances when the government was faltering in its administrative capacity, the apex court played an extremely constructive role of helping it identify areas and scenarios which required maximum attention. The proceedings before the Supreme Court provided direction and guidance in finding solutions to complex situations requiring skilful tackling. (Read full story: https://www.indialegallive.com/coverstory-articles/il-feature-news/supremecourt-pm-modi-covid19-vaccines)