The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Wednesday to issue directions to the states for payment of salaries to doctors and other healthcare workers engaged in the fight against COVID-19.
The apex court further asked the Centre to direct the state governments to provide quarantine facilities to these frontline workers.
“Doctors and healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients should not be denied quarantine facilities,” a three-judge bench comprising of Justices Ashok Bhushan, S K Kaul and M R Shah said.
The court also asked the Centre to file a compliance report within four weeks on payment of salaries and quarantine facilities to doctors and healthcare workers.
“Non-compliance would be viewed seriously,” the SC warned.
The three-judge bench was hearing a plea filed by a private doctor raising questions on the Centre”s May 15 decision that 14-day quarantine was not mandatory for doctors.