Directions on Capital’s oxygen mess

The Supreme Court on Wednesday conducted an urgent hearing on the Centre’s plea against the Delhi high court’s show-cause notice on contempt. Here’s what it said.

ON OXYGEN CRISIS

The Supreme Court asked the Centre to ensure supply of 700MT of medical oxygen to Delhi every day, and submit by 10.30am on Thursday a statement on how the daily allocation will be complied with “Nobody can dispute it is a national disaster. Nobody can dispute there is a deficit of oxygen. Nobody can dispute some people have lost their lives due to shortage of oxygen... so, now let us ensure that lives are saved. We want you to ensure 700 MT is given…”

ON ‘MUMBAI MODEL’

The SC bench asked the Centre and Delhi govt to examine the “Mumbai model” for optimal utilisation of oxygen

“There is wealth of information coming in every day… What they (BMC) are doing, how they are managing. We can learn from them. I also understand that Maharashtra also produces oxygen which Delhi cannot do”

ON CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS

The apex court also stayed the Delhi high court order issuing contempt notices to the Centre over not being able to supply Delhi’s complete quota of oxygen, but said the HC will continue to hear the case related to the oxygen crisis.

“It must be clarified that taking recourse to contempt will not resolve the problems. The country is faced with a serious pandemic of unprecedented humanitarian crisis, the efforts of courts should be to have active engagement and cooperation of all stakeholders”