‘SC directions on oxygen supply to Delhi will be honoured’

On Monday, the Delhi High Court asked the Centre about the status of the supply of oxygen to the hospitals in Delhi as per Supreme Court’s directions, given the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.

Additional Solicitor General, Chetan Sharma, representing the Centre, replied to the Delhi High Court that Supreme Court’s directions are being honoured and it will be honoured to the best of our ability. He also informed the Court that apart from tankers etc, additional 6 containers are reaching Delhi carrying 20 metric tonnes (MT) per tanker. The Supreme Court had directed the Union Of India to ensure, in terms of the assurance of the Solicitor General, that the deficit in the supply of oxygen to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) is rectified within 2 days from the date of the hearing, that is, on or before the midnight of May 3, 2021.

Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for Delhi Government informed the High Court about that the Supreme Court’s order and apprised the High Court that transportation, mapping, and others have to be taken care of by the Central Government and deficit has to be dealt with by the Centre.

During the hearing, one of the suppliers told the Court that he was forced to deliver more than what was required to be delivered.

A Division Bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli said: “You (Batra Hospital) asked the suppliers to ask them to deliver more than what was provided. You cannot use force and seize the vehicle. If the same happens, the whole system will collapse.”

Batra Hospital assured HC that this will not happen in the future and we understand this as it is very critical for other hospitals also.

The High Court made it clear to Batra Hospital that such conduct will not be tolerated.

The High Court says if this kind of conduct is adopted by anyone, others will be affected and warns the Executive Director (ED) of the Batra Hospital to ensure that such conduct is not repeated in the future.

The hearing which went for hours will remain to continue today. The Court was hearing a petition filed by advocate Rakesh Malhotra on various issues arising out of rising Covid cases in the national capital. The matter was disposed of on January 14 but after the Covid raised its ugly head once again with vengeance, the court revived this in April again.

WITH ANI INPUTS