Modi's 21 member scientific task force did not weigh in on the lockdown extension. Or on making testing chargeable, as Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General wrongly claimed in the Supreme Court on April 12.

I report for @thecaravanindia https://caravanmagazine.in/government/modi-administration-did-not-consult-icmr-appointed-covid-task-force-before-key-decisions

The solicitor general submitted in court that, they shouldn't intervene as the centre had arrived at the decision after considering all relevant issues.

But the disclosure by multiple members of the task force told me that the govt did not discuss the policy with them.

So, who did they discuss this with?

Kiran Majumdar Shaw ( @Bioconlimited ) & Sangeetha Reddy(Apollo) who decided Rs 4500 price with no reasoning. The clash of interest to allow KMS a final say in the pricing is appalling

Scientists estimate that tests could cost as low as Rs500

The bigger ques is that why did ICMR/ Central govt submit the court that the decision was taken by the scientific task force & not a committee of pvt sector itslef?!

SC changed its free testing order. And now Indians'll pay among the highest testing prices in the world.