Delhi Oxygen Crisis: HC Asks Kejriwal Govt To Take Over Refilling Unit With Immediate Effect, Issues Notice To 5 Refillers

The Court also said that in case Delhi government is not able to tackle the alarming situation then it will hand over the baton to officers of the Central government.

(Image: PTI)

New Delhi: As the national capital continues to reel under severe oxygen crisis due to significantly surging cases of Coronavirus, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked Arvind Kejriwal-led government to take over an oxygen refilling plant with immediate effect. 

As per reports, the court has also served contempt notices to five other refillers in Delhi. 

In a stern warning, the court also said that in case Delhi government is not able to tackle the alarming situation then it will hand over the baton to officers of the Central government.

"Set your house in order. Enough is enough. If you are not able to manage then tell us we will ask the Centre to send its officers. We will ask them to take over," the Court said in its order.

Delhi High Court directed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led  government to take over the plant of an oxygen refiller for not supplying gas to hospitals and allegedly giving it in black market and made it clear that the same action should be taken with regard to other suppliers who refuse to fall in line.

Additionally, it asked Delhi government to take account of stock and sale of medicines such as Remdesivir, Fabiflu and Tocilizumab at hospitals' pharmacies, as people are unable to get these drugs which are being sold at much higher rates in black market.

A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli, which was hearing the case relating to oxygen crisis and shortage of medicines to treat COVID-19 patients for over three hours, ruled that non-accounting of oxygen cylinders supplies by AAP government was leading to artificial shortage of gas and black marketing.