The Delhi High Court has asked the Central Government to do whatever is needed to provide oxygen to the hospitals in the National Capital and save human lives.
“Beg, borrow or steal. It is a national emergency,” said the Division Bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli.
The Delhi High Court came down heavily on the Centre on Wednesday over the issue of shortage of supply of medical oxygen in private hospitals in New Delhi.
The Delhi High Court said that it seemed “human lives are not that important.. for the State”.
“We are shocked and dismayed that the government does not seem to be seeing the reality… What is happening? Why is the government not waking up to the reality?” said the Court.
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The court was hearing a petition filed by Max Healthcare, which runs many hospitals in Delhi.
“We don’t care. Beg, borrow, steal or requisition new plants if you want. It is a national emergency” said the judges asking the Centre to fulfil the hospitals’ need of oxygen.
The bench further pulled up the Central Government for providing exemption to steel and petroleum industries while banning the use of oxygen for industrial purposes.
“If necessary, Centre should divert entire supply from industries particularly steel and petroleum,” the bench observed.
“The reality is that there is no oxygen. You have to arrange. Hospitals have run dry,” the bench told the Centre.
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The court said heavens are not going to fall if the industries, including steel and petroleum, run on lower capacity till oxygen is imported.
It said certainly all hell will break loose with the stoppage of medical oxygen for hospitals.