Death Of Covid Patients From No Supply Of Oxygen Is No Less Than Genocide: Allahabad HC

"How can we let our people die in this way when science is so advanced that even heart transplantation and brain surgery are taking place these days," it added.

Allahabad: On Tuesday, the Allahabad High Court observed that death of Covid paitents from lack of oxygen is a criminal act and said that it was "no less than genocide" by the management entrusted the task to ensure the oxygen supply chain is maintained.

The stern remarks were made on some news items doing the rounds on social media regarding the death of Covid-19 patients due to lack of oxygen in Lucknow and Meerut districts. The court ordered a probe into these incidents.

A two judges-bench comprising justices Siddharth Verma and Justice Ajit Kumar passed the order on a Public Interest Litigation on the spread of Covid-19 in the state and the condition of quarantine centres.

"We are at pain in observing that death of Covid patients just for non-supplying of oxygen to the hospitals is a criminal act and not less than a genocide by those who have been entrusted the task to ensure continuous procurement and supply chain of the liquid medical oxygen," the court said in its order. 

"How can we let our people die in this way when science is so advanced that even heart transplantation and brain surgery are taking place these days," it added.

"Normally, we would have not directed the state and district administration to enquire into such news that have been viralled on social media, but since the advocates who were appearing in this PIL supported such news and even submitted that more or less situations in other districts of state are the same, we find it necessary to direct for immediate remedial measures to be taken by the government," the court said.

Lucknow and Meerut DMs have been directed to enquire into such news items within 48 hours and submit their reports on the next date. They are also directed to appear before the court online on the next date of hearing.

As per the union health minister, there are currently at least 2,85,832 active cases in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. A total of 10,43,134 recoveries and 13,447 deaths have been reported in the state so far.