NEW DELHI: Not lack of medical equipments, beds or adequate testing facilities, but the circulation of fake news was identified by the Centre on Tuesday as the biggest impediment in fighting Covid-19 pandemic and sought a direction from the Supreme Court to all types of media not to indulge in such panic creating activity."Deliberate and inadvertent circulation of fake news and/or material capable of causing serious panic in minds of general public is found to be the single most unmanageable hindrance in the management of the challenge posed by Covid-19 pandemic," solicitor general Tushar Mehta said while presenting the status report before CJI S A Bobde and Justice L Nageswar Rao through video-conference hearing.It sought a direction from the SC to the effect that "no electronic/print media/web portal or social media shall print/publish/telecast anything on Covid-19 pandemic without first ascertaining factual position from the dedicated mechanism created by the Union government for the purpose of regular dissemination of status of steps taken on ground by governments across India."The Centre said circulating fake news is categorised as an offence under Disaster Management Act, 2005, but an appropriate direction from the SC "would protect the country from any potential and inevitable consequences resulting from false alarms meant to create panic in a section of society."The SC said, "we expect the Media (print, electronic or social) to maintain a strong sense of responsibility and ensure that unverified news capable of causing panic is not disseminated. A daily bulletin by the Government of India through all media avenues including social media and forums to clear the doubts of people would be made active within a period of 24 hours as submitted by the Solicitor General of India. We do not intend to interfere with the free discussion about the pandemic, but direct the media refer to and publish the official version about the developments."The Centre said that it was roping in counsellors and even leaders of religious communities to interact with the sheltered migrant workers, some of whom appear to have fallen victim to fake news and are in panic, to calm them down and convince them that the quarantine period at the shelter homes was the best for them and their near and dear ones in the villages. The SC asked the SG as to how it will find so many counsellors?When SG said that the governments will utilise the services of district mental health program counsellors, the CJI said, "Panic will destroy more lives than the virus. You need counsellors. You can have Bhajan, Kirtan, Namaz or whatever but you have to give strength to the people. Your affidavit says nothing about it."Mehta said, "We will mobilise religious leaders, maulvis, sadhus to counsel the migrant workers in shelters to stay calm. I am making a statement that within 24 hours we will mobilise trained counsellors and religious leaders." The CJI said, "get community leaders of all faiths."The CJI also suggested management of shelters homes being given to volunteers instead of police. "There should not be use of force or intimidation." The SG said it would not be feasible to make volunteers manage the shelter homes.The CJI said, "Summer is coming now. There should be sufficient quantity of water, food, medicine and beds in the shelters. Otherwise there will be a bigger problem" The SG said that there was enough provision for food and other supplies for a year at present.