Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the Centre, on Friday told the Supreme Court that there was no oxygen shortage, but deficiency arising out of inadequate lifting of oxygen supplies. Mehta was appearing in the case where the apex court took suo moto cognizance on issues related to oxygen supply, drug supply, and various other policies in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A bench, headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat, questioned the Central government regarding various measures to be taken up by it so far to address the oxygen crisis and vaccine distribution in the country. "What is the expected supply of oxygen? How does central and state govts enable vaccine registration for illiterates or those who don't have access to the internet," the apex court asked.
To a question if there was an oxygen deficit in the country, Mehta replied, "as on date, no." However, the bench noted that as against 700 MT demand made by the Delhi government, the Centre had allocated only 490 MT of oxygen.
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It noted that as many as 500 lives were lost in merely five days and immediate steps must be taken to ameliorate the situation.
"We'll also hear citizens crying for oxygen cylinders. The ground situation in Delhi is oxygen isn't really available and it's the same in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The government has to tell us what difference there will be from today and the next day of the hearing," Justice Chandrachud said, adding, "If there's a 200 MT deficit then you should give that to Delhi. The Centre has an important responsibility as far as citizens of Delhi are concerned. You said there's a surplus in the steel sector, use that and supply to Delhi. Between today and Monday there'll be 500 deaths on our hands."
Delhi represents the nation and there is hardly anyone who is ethnically a Delhiite, Chandrachud said. "You've to push through since you've to save lives, you have a special responsibility as the Centre," he reminded.
