Oxygen shortage: SC reprimands Centre, says it can't let people die
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court reprimanded the Centre for its failure in ensuring oxygen availability in this hour of COVID emergency. The apex court is said to have sprayed several disturbing questions at the Centre while hearing a petition over the shortage of oxygen in hospitals in Delhi.
The court reminded the Centre the responsibility of the government that it should not allow citizens to die due to the short supply of oxygen to hospitals. It also urged the Centre to rise up to the situation considering the crisis.
The SC was considering an appeal filed by the Max Group that had flagged oxygen crisis in two of its hospitals. Hearing the appeal, the Court directed the Centre to protect the fundamental right to life of people by whatever means.
It was the reports on smooth supply of oxygen to the industrial use despite its order to release oxygen to hospitals that enraged the Supreme Court to come heavily on the Centre.
The court had on Tuesday asked the government to be "sensitive" to the situation and divert the oxygen from industries like petroleum and steel, and use it for patients.
However, in the next 24 hours, the situation in the capital worsened further- with six hospitals desperate for oxygen instead of three — pushing the court to respond sharply against the Centre.