High Court Issues Show-Cause Notice To Centre Over Oxygen Shortage In Delhi

Hearing the matter, a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli also directed two senior central government officers to be present before it on Wednesday to respond to the notice.

Photo Courtesy: PTI

Hight Court on Tuesday directed Centre to show cause as to why contempt not be initiated against it for failing to comply with order on supply of oxygen to Delhi to treat COVID-19 patients. Aftre Supreme Court order, now High Court has also asked Centre to supply 700 MT oxygen daily to Delhi by 'whatever means'. The rap came after many hospitals in Delhi are still complaining of lack of oxygen.

Hearing the matter, a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli also directed two senior central government officers to be present before it on Wednesday to respond to the notice.

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You can put your head in sand like an ostrich, we will not the high court said. "Are you living in ivory towers?"

The High Court also rejected the Centre's submission that Delhi was not entitled to 700 metric tonnes of medical oxygen in light of existing medical infrastructure.

"We see grim reality everyday of people not able to secure oxygen or ICU beds in hospitals which have reduced beds due to gas shortage, it said.

It said the Supreme Court's April 30 detailed order shows direction to the central government to provide 700 MT of oxygen per day to Delhi, not just 490 MT.