HC to Centre: Consider allocating O2 to state from nearest sources

Court asks Centre to consider enhancing supply of remdesivir and other life-saving drugs to the state

JODHPUR: The Rajasthan High Court (HC) has suggested the central government’s highpower committee to consider allocating oxygen to Rajasthan from sources in the state or nearby areas in order to save the transportation time.

The court made the suggestion in view that the fact that Rajasthan has been allocated medical grade oxygen by the Centre from faraway states of West Bengal and Odisha.

The HC division bench, comprising Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Vinit

Kumar Mathur, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Surendra Jain, also asked the centre’s high-power committee to consider enhancing the supply of remdesivir injections and other life-saving drugs to meet the demand of the state.

During the hearing, additional advocate general (AAG) Karan Singh Rajpurohit told the court that all efforts are being made by the state to increase the oxygen supply.

“The needful is not being done by the centre as per the demand made by the state. The requisitions, which are sent to the high-power committee, are not being fulfilled adequately. The state is making all efforts to operationalise oxygen generation plants, which are attached to the medical colleges in the state,” he said.

After hearing the arguments the bench observed, “We appreciate the effort of all the concerns including the doctors and para-medical staff for providing their exemplary services in the present time of pandemic. We also record our satisfaction to the concerned government functionaries for their effort to meet out the contingencies in the state. Although best efforts are being made to utilise the available resources, we feel that the requisite efforts are not sufficient and further efforts need to be made to meet the prevailing situation and the situation which is likely to arise in the state of Rajasthan because of pandemic.”

“We also take this opportunity to call upon the state of Rajasthan to make an appeal to all non-residents of Rajasthan living in the nation as well as abroad to make contribution to the state to meet out the present situation,” the court added.

The court has set May 13 as the next date of hearing.