HC Tells Delhi Govt To Take Over Oxygen Refilling Unit; Says ‘Get House In Order’
Mumbai: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday criticised the Delhi government over black marketing of oxygen cylinders amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. The court also said that if the Delhi government is unable to address the situation then it will ask officers of the central government to take over.
The court said, ” Set your house in order. Enough is enough. If you are not able to manage, tell us that we will ask the centre to send its officers. We will ask them to handle it.”
The Delhi High Court told the Delhi government that its system had collapsed and stern steps should be taken to ensure that the black marketing or hoarding of medical oxygen, which comes at a minimum cost, does not cost several thousand or lakhs of rupees.
The court expressed its displeasure over the oxygen refillers who were not present in the proceedings, as well as their displeasure with the Delhi government for not issuing proper instructions to the oxygen refillers.
“We will ask you to take action against the refillers and issue a contempt notice because they did not show up even after they were called … This cylinder business is a mess. You have to look at it and put your house in order If they are combative, then they will see our combativeness. If they are playing with people’s lives like this, keep them in custody,” it said.
A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli, while hearing a plea made by hospitals about the lack of oxygen and medicines, said that Remdisvir said that the Delhi government was not able to deal with the growing cases.
“Your system has failed. Black marketing of oxygen still continues. How are people procuring oxygen? Large-scale hoarding is going and you are not taking action. Take action against them,” the court told the Delhi government.
Following sharp criticism from the Delhi High Court, several hospitals reported that they were facing a lack of oxygen. There has been a large number of deaths due to lack of oxygen in the capital, due to which many hospitals have moved to the Delhi High Court.
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