Taking suo motu cognizance of the ‘national health emergency’, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to come up with a feasible plan within 24 hours to address some of the glaring paucities that have been exposed by the lethal second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The apex court’s energy has, however, caused some dismay. This is perhaps because as many as six high courts were examining — critically — some of the shocking instances of administrative failure; India’s highest court is likely to transfer these issues to itself to avoid ‘confusion’. Clarity is, indeed, a virtue. It must be made clear that the government of the day is to be held accountable for its monumental lapses. There is a view that it has got away rather lightly on several occasions in the course of this pandemic. The horrors suffered by India’s migrant workers on account of myopic policy decisions are just one example.

There can be no doubts about the scale of the ‘national emergency’. Each passing day, data bear out both its enormity and its cruelties. On Thursday, India logged over three lakh new cases and witnessed over 2,000 deaths: this is yet another grim milestone globally. The human suffering has been amplified by other raging crises. In several states — Gujarat and Haryana are examples — the demand for oxygen has outstripped supply even though an Empowered Group of Officers had raised a red flag last year. Health institutions are running short of not just oxygen but also beds and even life-saving drugs. Laboratories — the first line of response in a medical crisis — have been equally overwhelmed; the delay in diagnosis has added to citizens’ woes. India’s health apparatus is under unprecedented strain.

What is shameful is that this crisis was entirely avoidable. The Narendra Modi government had smugly declared victory over the virus instead of preparing for a lethal second wave that was already lashing many other parts of the world. This criminal hubris encouraged non-compliance among the people. Even as the need to curb mass gatherings — religious and political — was ignored, people let down their guard, refusing to wear masks or adhere to other safety protocols. Mr Modi’s government did not pay attention to Bangladesh — a smaller country with finite resources -—which reinforced Covid regulations by combining public awareness campaigns with shaming mechanisms. Equally inexplicable has been the Centre’s refusal to keep the health infrastructure battle-ready and the snail’s pace of the vaccination programme. Did Mr Modi’s government have a robust strategy in place to deal with an unexpected turn of events?

Hindsight, of course, offers some advantages. The virus can be expected to return, again and again, with newer mutations and it is to be hoped India will not repeat the mistakes it committed that made the second wave possible. But this government needs to be asked tough questions. If the vanguards of democracy desist from doing so, the powers that be would no longer think it is answerable to the people for their sufferings.