In Brief
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre for Public Interest Litigation filed a writ petition seeking directions to the Union of India to prepare a fresh National Disaster Management Plan specifically for COVID-19, to lay down new minimum standards of relief, and to transfer PM CARES Fund collections to the National Disaster Response Fund. The Supreme Court dismissed the petition, holding that the existing National Disaster Management Plan—being a dynamic document regularly updated—adequately covers pandemic response; that existing relief guidelines apply to COVID-19; and that the Government retains discretion in allocating financial assistance between available funds. The Court refused to substitute its judgment for that of the Central Government on financial policy matters.
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