Oxygen shortage: SC seeks national plan on oxygen, drug crisis by tomorrow
While the entire country is battling the second wave of coronavirus, the Supreme Court on Thursday took a suo moto cognisance on shortage of oxygen and essential drugs issue with a three-judge bench headed by CJI SA Bobde.
The Supreme Court asking Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to submit or inform a national plan, after considering the fact that at least 6 different High Courts have been hearing the matter.
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The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told Supreme Court that the country was in dire need of oxygen. The CJI SA Bobde said that the court will hear the matter on Friday.
The CJI said that we have 4 issues primarily in mind - supply of oxygen, supply of essential drugs, manner of vaccination are among them. The Senior Advocate, Harish Salve, will represent the amicus curiae. We want to see a national plan on this issue, the CJI said.
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Besides the shortage of oxygen, the apex court will also examine the judicial power of High Courts to declare lockdown amid a massive surge in COVID-19 cases amid the second wave of coronavirus.
The development comes after the Delhi High Court pulled up the Centre for not diverting sufficient oxygen to hospitals for COVID-19 patients. The Delhi HC stated that it “seems human life was not important for State”.
It further ordered the Centre to provide oxygen by whatever means. Hospitals have been facing a shortage of gas in treating serious COVID-19 patients.
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