DIRECTIONS FOR UNION TO MOVE TO ICJ AGAINST CHINA OVER COVID-19, PLEA TO BE HEARD TOMORROW BY SUPREME COURT

DIRECTIONS FOR UNION TO MOVE TO ICJ AGAINST CHINA OVER COVID-19, PLEA TO BE HEARD TOMORROW BY SUPREME COURT

-Shatakshi Pathak

On 18^th June 2020, the PIL will be heard by the Supreme Court of India for directions to the Ministry of Social Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Centre, to file suit in the International Court of Justice(ICJ) for claiming 600 billion US Dollars from People’s Republic of China as damages for spreading the coronavirus.

KK Ramesh had filed the plea before the court through Advocate Jaya Sukin which states that the biological weapon was intentionally created by the People’s Republic of China against India to spread in public places to harm people of India and to pull down the economy of India.

It is also argued that this virus is too dangerous and destructive which is created to vary from person to person and it spreads rapidly. In addition, after coming to the conclusion, it was alleged by many renowned scientists and experts that when a biological weapon from China had released in India then the trouble was started.

The plea had also referred problems faced by migrant workers due to COVID-19 pandemic. They had suffered starvation, many of them lost their job, there was a lack of shelter and security and many more problems. Due to lockdown which was enforced in order to prevent spreading of coronavirus, many people were forced to walk for miles to go home.

The adverse effect on the Indian economy due to imposition of lockdown in the entire country had been stated in the plea, with the presumption the people below the poverty line will increase in number. It was stated by the petitioner that in 2020, India’s economic growth was projected at 0.2% by MOODY’S, as compared to March, it’s a projection of 2.5% which marks downward revision.

The one more issue has been raised by the petitioner that virus has developed in Wuhan and in Chinese cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Wenzhou, Shenzhen, the virus was not spread but was able to travel thousands of kilometres to India and many more countries. Thus, it is a big lie which was claimed by China that virus can not be manmade which is trying to mislead India and many more countries.

As per Article 93(1) of the UN Charter, only States have authority to file a petition before ICJ and one citizen have no right to file the petition before ICJ. So, plea tries for directions to the Respondents to file the case against the People’s Republic of China for the compensation of 600 Billion US Dollars.