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BIG STORY MAY 07, 2021 | The Indian Eye 6

ing coercive action in case of critical remarks of the Madras
non-compliance of its order. A High Court holding the poll
bench of Justices D Y Chandra- panel responsible for the surge
chud and M R Shah said its or- in COVID cases in the country.
der to allocate 700 MT oxygen It also trashed the plea that me-
was not for one day and supply dia be restrained from reporting
of that level had to be main- observations of judicial proceed-
tained on a daily basis. ings, saying it will be a “retro-
“We want 700 MT to be sup- grade” act.
plied to Delhi on a daily basis. Coming down heavily on
It is not that our order was for the Election Commission for
supply of 700 MT only for a day “not stopping political parties”
but it is for every day,” the bench from violating Covid protocols
said when the Delhi govern- during their campaign rallies
ment’s counsel, senior advocate for Assembly polls in four states
Rahul Mehra, told the bench People stand in a queue to take oxygen cylinders for the COViD-19 pa- and a Union Territory over the
that Delhi received 537 MT oxy- tients amid the rise in cases, in Meerut on Thursday. (ani) last month, the Madras HC had
gen till midnight and another 89 said that murder charges should
MT till 9am on Friday. probably be imposed on the
Taking note of his submis- panel for being “the only institu-
sion, the bench told solicitor tion responsible for the situation
general Tushar Mehta, “Please that we are in today”.
do not drive us to a situation The courts are really putting
when we have to take coercive pressure on the Center by ask-
action. We want 700 MT not ing tough questions. The Madu-
only for a day but every day. We rai Bench of Madras High Court
mean business and you have to on Friday questioned the Cen-
supply 700 MT.” tral government why Covaxin,
It was a very tough warn- the vaccine against COVID-19
ing to the central government. which was developed with the
Though the apex court stayed assistance of the Indian Council
contempt proceedings initiated of Medical Research (ICMR)
by the Delhi High Court against and National Institute of Virol-
the Centre and its senior bureau- ogy (NIV), has been manufac-
crats over supply of medical ox- tured only at a private institute.
ygen to Delhi, the court directed Beneficiaries above 18 years old wait for their turn The court asked the Centre
the Centre to ensure supply of to get the COViD19 vaccine, at Radha Swami Satsang (COViD-19 Vaccina- to explain the amount incurred
700 MT of oxygen to the city. tion Centre) in new Delhi on Thursday. by the government to procure
Earlier, the Delhi high court COVID vaccines and what steps
on Tuesday issued a show-cause language against various state lahabad high court bench of Jus- have been taken to revive the
notice to the Centre as to why governments and the Center. tice Ajit Kumar and Justice Sid- vaccine institutes. The Madurai
contempt proceedings should In a strong comment re- dhartha Varma. Bench of Madras High Court
not be initiated after it sought to garding the grim coronavirus The Allahabad high court was also hearing a Public Inter-
wriggle out of its liability to sup- disease (Covid-19) situation took stock of reports of shortage est Litigation (PIL) seeking di-
ply 700 tonnes of medical-grade in the country, the Allahabad of medical oxygen due to rise in rection to manufacture Covaxin
oxygen to the national capital. high court said that the loss of Covid-19 infections. It highlight- in the Chengalpet HLL unit.
“The Centre will quibble on lives of Covid-19 patients due to ed stories viral on social media In a related development,
these little things and let people non-supply of oxygen amounts of hapless citizens begging for the Kerala High Court on Fri-
die by not supplying oxygen. Mr to nothing short of a “criminal an oxygen cylinder to save the day sought a response from
Mehra is not saying this; we are act” -- a “genocide” -- on part of life of their near and dear ones, the Centre regarding the time
telling you this. Are you living in those entrusted to ensure such both at the end of the district frame within which the Kera-
ivory towers? You can put your supplies. administration and the police la Government would get its
head in the sand, like an ostrich; “We are at pain in observing administration. The bench also share of COVID vaccine doses.
we will not,” the bench said. that the death of Covid patients observed the rampant hoarding The court was hearing a peti-
The court said it was pained just for non-supplying of oxygen of oxygen cylinders and harass- tion challenging the Centre’s
to see the attitude of the Centre to the hospitals is a criminal act ment of citizens who are desper- “Liberalised Pricing and Ac-
towards the supply of oxygen to and not less than a genocide by ately in need of them. celerated National COVID-19
Delhi when even hospitals are those who have been entrusted Lauding the high courts Vaccination Strategy” (policy)
reducing the number of beds the task to ensure continuous for effectively supervising the and its suo motu case against
due to the shortage in oxygen. procurement and supply chain Covid-19 pandemic manage- overcrowding in front of vaccine
The high courts across the of the liquid medical oxygen,” ment, the Supreme Court centres.
country have used very strong read an order passed by the Al- Thursday refused to expunge Continued on next page... >>

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