SC sends notice to Centre on plea to transfer PM Cares Fund money to NRDF

The Supreme court of India issued a legal notice to Central Government on a plea to transfer all the money collected for PM Cares Fund to National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). 

Prashant Bhushan filed public interest litigation(PIL) throwing some light on PM Cares Fund. Dushyant Dave advocated him in a virtual court hearing. Senior advocate Dushyant Dave represented Mr Bhushan and petitioned the government to create and execute a national plan to fix the damage caused by COVID-19 pandemic, which comes under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. 

As per the hearing, Prashant Bhushan is only seeking the government's assistance and has nothing against the Centre. Justice Ashok Bhushan has asked the government whether there's a plan in place if so, it necessarily has to be on the record. 

"Whether there is a minimum standard of relief as per the Disaster Management Act?" Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MR Shah asked the government for an explanation. 

The petition raised by Prashant Bhushan argues NRDF is not being utilised despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It also points out that the PM Cares Fund does not fall under the Disaster Management Act. 

Bringing to the court's notice, the petition seeks transparency of the PM Cares Fund. According to reports, the fund is neither in the scope of Right to Information Act, 2005 nor does it come within CAG audit. 

Advocate Dushyant Dave requested the court to take up the matter seriously and separately, as the bench of Justices wanted to combine PM Cares Fund case and the condition of Migrants due to the lockdown case. 

Next hearing is expected to take place after four weeks.