While the BJP central govt says “not our job to supply oxygen”, High Court replies “It is your job and Delhi govt’s job admonishing the Center and Delhi governments over the oxygen-shortage crisis that has triggered the devastating deaths of severe COVID-positive patients and the High Court emphatically stated that the responsibility lies with both the governments.
Delhi High Court on Monday said, “You don’t seem to be taking into account the established supply chains. They were supplying to Delhi. You’ve made it 85 metric tonnes. Why should their tankers be held up in spite of your order?”
Solicitor General Tushan Mehta told the Delhi government counsel, “You intimate us. A criminal complaint can be registered. The home minister has issued an order that says treat oxygen tankers like ambulances.”
To this, the court said, “We fail to understand. We asked you to consider reworking allocation. All that was not done. 21 lives have been lost.”
However, Mehta argued that it was “not because of non-supply by me” and “it is not my job. It’s for the state.”
The High Court said, “It is both your jobs. You can’t say it’s not my job.”
Delhi government told the high court that oxygen refillers are not informing the government about the ground situation.
Meanwhile, INOX, which supplies oxygen to most Delhi hospitals, said, “Central government asked us to supply 80 MT and GNCTD is asking us to supply 125 MT.”
The counsel for INOX said, “Now we are confused. We are receiving SOS calls from hospitals. This is back-breaking. The state government should at least clarify. We need some direction and help in this regard,”
In this complex conglomeration, it appears that the central government and the state government keep passing the buck and the oxygen suppliers caught in the middle of the “blame game” and bad organ are bewildered and this is why the oxgen supplies are held up.
Meantime, citizens are stepping up to supply oxygen and give money to the governments and hospital to buy oxygen, but the fear is, “Will the governments still remain in frozen inaction uttering “It’s not my job!” while more lives are being lost?”