SC refuses to direct transfer of contributions made to PM CARES Fund for COVID-19 pandemic to National Disaster Response Fund
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to direct transfer of contributions made to PM CARES Fund for COVID-19 pandemic to the National Disaster Response Fund. While disposing of the petition, Supreme Court said, no need for a fresh national disaster relief plan. The funds collected by the PM Cares Fund are entirely different and that these are funds of charitable trusts, the top court said.
A voluntary contribution can always be made to National Disaster Response Fund, the Supreme Court said on funds for COVID-19.
The Supreme Court also noted, “The National Disaster Management plan created in November 2019 is enough to tackle Covid-19. No need to create a fresh action plan or separate minimum standards of care.”
The Supreme Court on Tuesday took up the plea filed by an NGO seeking all contributions made to the PM Cares Fund till date to be transferred to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), a statutory fund created under section 46 of the Disaster Management Act of 2005 (DM Act).
The Supreme had earlier reserved its order on a plea on the issue raised in the petition.
The petition, filed by NGO ‘Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL)’ through advocate Prashant Bhushan, had sought a direction to the Centre to transfer all contributions made to the PM Cares Fund, set up for Covid-19 relief, to the NDRF.