11.40 am: More than 20 patients in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district hospital have died due to lack of oxygen supply, reports News18. However, minister Suresh Kumar, who is on his way to Chamarajanagar, claims that all the deaths did not take place due to oxygen shortage.

11.22 am: “Media should be able to report everything also to create accountability,” says Justice DY Chandrachud, according to Bar and Bench. “Often the dialogue in court is to create an umbrella of discussion.”

The Supreme Court says it does not want to demoralise the High Courts as they are vital pillars of democracy. “We cant just say judges should stick to pleadings,” it adds. “They are over burdened and they are saying whats happening around them. They are burning the midnight oil.”

11.20 am: The Supreme Court says asking media to not report on observations is too “far fetched”, reports PTI.

11.17 am: The Supreme Court says media is powerful watchdog in democracy and cannot be stopped from reporting discussions in higher courts, reports PTI.

The Election Commission had on Sunday moved the Supreme Court against what it called “blatantly disparaging remarks” by the Madras High Court for conducting polls during pandemic. The High Court had on April 26 said the poll panel “should probably be booked for murder” for not stopping political rallies.

11.15 am: Serum Institute of India Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla has said that India’s Covid-19 vaccine shortage would continue through July. Poonawalla said that the production of the vaccines is expected to increase from 60-70 million doses (6-7 crore) to 100 million (10 crore) by then.

Read more here:

‘There were no orders’: Covid vaccine supply shortage to go on till July, says Adar Poonawalla

11.11 am: The Election Commission tells the Supreme Court that the Madras High Court castigated the poll panel without seeking any reply from officers responsible under Disaster Management Act, reports Live Law.

11.06 am: The Supreme Court begins hearing a plea by the Election Commission of India challenging a Madras High Court order criticising it for allowing polls to take place amid pandemic, reports ANI.

9.23 am: India reports 3,68,147 new coronavirus cases, taking the tally in the country to 19,925,604 since the pandemic broke out in January 2020. The toll climbed by 3,417 to 2,18,959. There are 34,13,642 active cases and as many as 1,62,93,003 patients have recovered from the infection.

8.58 am: Maharashtra recorded 56,647 fresh infections and 669 deaths on Sunday. It was a drop in daily load compared to Saturday when the state had registered 63,282 cases.

8.55 am: Delhi reported more than 400 deaths for the second consecutive day on Sunday. The national Capital logged 407 deaths on Sunday, a little less than the 412 fatalities on Saturday – the highest so far. The city registered 20,394 new cases on Sunday. The positivity rate is now at 28.33%, according to the state health bulletin.

8.52 am: The Punjab government on Sunday night announced fresh curbs to rein in the surging infections, NDTV reports. Now, those entering Punjab via air, rail or road will need to furnish a Covid negative report. Cinema halls, bars and gymnasiums will remain shut and no dine-in will be allowed in restaurants. All shops selling non-essential items will remain shut. These restrictions will remain in effect till May 15.

8.47 am: Indian-American billionaire businessman Vinod Khosla pledges $10 million for the supply of medical oxygen to hospitals in India.

8.46 am: Ladakh registers 140 fresh cases of coronavirus and one death in the last 24 hours, reports PTI.

8.45 am: Here are the top updates from Sunday: