The objective of this article is to analyze the COVID-19 pandemic in the socioeconomic and environmental determinants of health that is broadly influenced by political and environmental factors. It cast a disproportionate burden and disparities in livelihood, health care, and fundamental freedom and entitlements. The Indian government justified national lockdown under India's Constitution, 1950, besides vintage law in the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. Though the government moved to revamp the economy and foster investment, the lockdown-induced poverty is scaling new heights and public health governance in turmoil. The government moved to novelty of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, by resorting to omnibus power without relief and rehabilitation packages. Despite these measures, the labor and migrant workers slipped into unemployment and remained out of the pale of social security and labor welfare legislations. The government implored industrial houses for equitable and compassionate treatment toward workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, many states embarked on the exemption drive from the labor laws setting workers' rights in jeopardy. The right to health and equity as the state's paramount concern witnessed a series of judicial interventions, but the public health administration and governance remained throes of transition. The COVID-19 pandemic has exhibited skewed policy approaches of health equity and the social justice in India.
