Centre’s affidavit

In its affidavit, the Centre has said that a national disaster management plan is already in place since November 2019 and that this plan specifically deals with “biological and public health emergencies” while providing for a broad framework in terms of the response to be provided in pursuance in case of any disaster.

“A national plan does not and cannot contain step by step instructions or specific directions for the day-to-day management by government agencies in the situation of any particular and unforeseen disaster...the decisions taken till date by the central government, as per the national plan, and as per the procedure laid down therein, have been according to the contemporaneous knowledge about the nature, efficacy and the effect of Covid-19 on large populations,” stated the affidavit.

About the production of remdesivir, the Centre said that owing to a limited demand for the antiviral drug during the preceding months, the seven licensed manufacturers in India produced 2.7 million vials of remdesivir per month whereas the total installed capacity was 3.88 million vials per month.