Another wave around the corner, SC asks Centre to complete vaccination

New Delhi: Considering the medical emergency through which the country is going, the Supreme Court has not been hesitant in taking up pleas that sought orders to direct the government for measures to fight the COVID pandemic's deadly second wave.

Apart from reprimanding and reminding the Centre for its failure on many fronts to provide necessities like Oxygen to states and measure to prevent the spread, the SC now ordered the Centre to accelerate the vaccination, warning of an impending third COVID wave in the country.

The court wanted the Centre to complete the vaccination process and create buffer stocks of oxygen to ensure the availability of oxygen to meet any emergency.

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah also insisted that the Centre should provide 700 metric tonnes of liquid medical oxygen. The oxygen supply should be continued and the current formula for supplying oxygen should be reviewed for a seamless supply.

The Delhi government stood on its stand for receiving 700 MT oxygen from the Centre, citing a recommendation by an expert group, comprising Niti Aayog member V K Paul and AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria among others.

But the Centre told the Supreme Court that the audit committee will look at the actual demand for oxygen, how it is being distributed and problems being faced by Delhi in accessing the supply.