New Delhi: No relief to the Center even from the Supreme Court. The central government has to supply 700 metric ton of medical oxygen to Delhi everyday till further order, said supreme court on Friday. As the situation deteriorates and the hospitals in the national capital continue to combat rise in Covid-19 cases.
Justice DY Chandrachud commenting on the petition filed by Tushar Mehta said, “We want 700 MT oxygen to be supplied to Delhi on daily basis and we mean business. It has to be supplied and we don’t want to be coercive. Our order will take time to be uploaded by 3 pm. But you proceed and arrange the oxygen.”
Earlier the Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued a show cause notice to the Central Government asking Why it should not entertain contempt proceedings against the government ? When they have failed to comply with the judicial order to supply oxygen for the treatment of covid-19 patients of the national capital.
Against the contempt notice of the Delhi High Court,Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General, Government of India, took up the matter in front of the bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana, as Justice DY Chandrachud’s bench was not available on Wednesday.
On which the Chief Justice directed to list the petition of the Center for hearing to the bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud.
The Supreme Court agreeing with the Delhi High Court order said, “If nothing is to be hidden, let it come before the nation how allocation and distribution is done transparently by the centre. The centre continues to be in contempt for not supplying 700 MT of oxygen to Delhi.”
Justice D Y Chandrachud has also turned down the Central government’s plea to stay the Karnataka high court order directing it to increase the supply of medical oxygen to the state to 1,200 MT per day.
“We don’t want to leave the citizens of Karnataka in the lurch. The order of the High Court is a careful, calibrated and judicial exercise of power. We see no reason to entertain the SLP,” said a bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud.
