NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Tuesday showed displeasure with the reports of black marketing of oxygen cylinders in the national capital.
The court slammed the AAP led-Delhi government saying its entire system has failed as black marketing of oxygen cylinders and crucial medicines for treating Covid-19 patients is going on. “This is a mess that you have been unable to resolve,” the court said.
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The court further said, “If you (Delhi Government) are not going to be able to manage then tells us, we will ask central govt officer to take over (the refilling unit).”
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Sir Ganga Ram Hospital requires a minimum of 11,000 cubic metre liquid oxygen daily and has a consumption of 10,000 cubic meter per day, officials said.
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A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli observed it was not the time to become vultures. “Are you aware of black marketing. Is it a good human gesture?”, the bench said to oxygen refillers.
The HC issued a contempt notice and asked the Delhi government to take action against erring cylinder dealers. The court also told the government to take black marketers in custody, saying “you have powers to take action.”
The court told the government that it has to pull up its socks with respect to the distribution of not only liquid oxygen but also oxygen cylinders. “There’s no account being kept on how they’re further supplying O2 to hospitals/individuals, leading to an artificial black market,” the court said.
The court also clarified that it made no request for creating 100-bed facility in Hotel Ashoka for its judges as stated in news reports.
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People gathered outside an oxygen refilling facility. (PTI)
The court’s order came when it was informed by Delhi Heart and Lung Institute that they are facing oxygen shortage and the concerned nodal officer is helpless.
The Delhi HC also directed Delhi government to take the record from all pharmacies on the supply of Remdesivir, Dexamethasone and Fabiflu and other drugs, and conduct a random audit to ascertain any black marketing.
The court asked the government to file an affidavit mentioning the status of the stock of liquid and gaseous oxygen with refillers by 10 am tomorrow.
Till Sunday, several hospitals in the national capital grappled with a severe shortage of medical oxygen even after receiving emergency supplies with the help of the Delhi government and the police.
The elite healthcare facility in central Delhi had sent multiple SOS messages last week amid a severe shortage of oxygen as the lives of hundreds of patients at the facility hung by a thread.
The crisis had prompted some of the healthcare facilities to freeze admissions of patients.
CM Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the number of SOS messages from hospitals has reduced due to the coordination between the Central and state governments.
(With inputs from agencies)
