Supreme Court seeks report from Center on oxygen crisis

National Taskforce gave important suggestions

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Center to submit an action taken report on implementation of the National Task Force’s suggestions regarding oxygen allocation to states and union territories within two weeks. This task force was constituted by the Supreme Court. During the second corona wave in the country, there was a tremendous oxygen crisis. There were reports of death of many people due to its deficiency in many states.

The top court said that since the NTF consists of senior doctors and experts, the Center is expected to follow their recommendations at the policy level, so that any exigencies in the present and future can be dealt with. A bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice MR Shah also fixed the matter for next hearing after two weeks. Listed this matter along with other petitions filed by taking suo motu cognizance of the preparedness to deal with the corona epidemic. The top court said the final report of the NTF has been filed and the interim report of the sub-committee on assessment of oxygen requirement in the national capital has also been filed. Significantly, the Central Government has appealed in the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court initiating contempt proceedings against the officers of the Center. The High Court has initiated contempt action against the officers of the Center for not complying with its order to supply 700 tonnes of medical grade oxygen to the patients of Corona in the national capital. During the hearing, advocate Rajat Nayar, appearing for Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, said that a letter has been issued last evening, which states that the central government wants some time to file an action taken report on the recommendations of the NTF. To this, the bench said that it wanted to know how the government was implementing the recommendations of the NTF.