HC sends Centre contempt notice for flouting order on Delhi oxygen
‘You can put your head in the sand like an ostrich, we will not’ Officers summoned today ■
New Delhi, May 4: The Delhi high court on Tuesday directed the Centre to show cause as to why contempt not be initiated against it for failing to comply with order on supply of oxygen to Delhi for treating Covid-19 patients.
“You can put your head in sand like an ostrich, we will not,” the high court told the Central government.
It added that the Supreme Court has already directed, and now the high court is also saying that the Centre will have to supply 700 MT oxygen daily to Delhi right away by whatever means.
“You are part of the city and seeing the situation yourself. No, you don’t know. Are you living in ivory towers?” the bench said.
A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli also rejected the Centre’s submission that Delhi was not entitled to 700 metric tonnes of medical oxygen in light of existing medical infrastructure.
It said the Supreme Court's April 30 detailed order directed the Central government to provide 700 MT of oxygen per day to Delhi and not just 490 MT.
“We had told you contempt is the last thing in our mind but it is certainly in our mind and don’t drive us to that last point. We mean business now. Enough is enough. Be clear on this. We are not going to take no for an answer. There is no way you won't supply 700 MT. There is a Supreme Court order and now we are also saying that you will have to supply 700 MT oxygen daily to Delhi right away by whatever means. We would not hear anything except compliance,” an annoyed bench orally
observed. The bench, which heard for nearly five hours the matter relating to the oxygen crisis and other Covid-19 related issues that Delhi is grappling with, said: “We see the grim reality every day of people not able to secure oxygen or ICU beds in hospitals which have reduced beds due to the gas shortage. “We, therefore, direct the Central government to show cause why contempt be not initiated for not only non-compliance of our order of May 1 as also of order of the Supreme Court dated April 30. To answer the said notice, we direct the presence of Piyush Goyal and Sumita
Dawra (senior Central government officers) on Wednesday,” it said.
The bench also said just because the Delhi government earlier demanded less oxygen, therefore the people of this city should suffer and the Centre will ignore the revised requirement and will let people die.