'There Is Hoarding On Both Medicines And Oxygen, You Are Not Doing Anything': Delhi High Court Pulls Up Delhi Government

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday pulled up the Government of NCT of Delhi on the issue of black marketing and hoarding of covid medicines and oxygen cylinders.

A division bench comprising of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rekha Palli went ahead to note that there were incidents of black marketing with respect to the oxygen cylinders which is "one of the biggest challenges faced by individuals."

"There is hoarding going on of both medicines and oxygen. You are not doing anything." Remarked the Bench at the outset.

In view of this, assurance was given by Rahul Mehra, counsel appearing for GNCTD that details of what has been done and the raids conducted so far in order to deal with the issue of black marketing and hoarding will be given to the Court.

At this point, Senior Advocate Malvika Trivedi suggested to the Court that there should be a mechanism in place in order to deal with the issue and that the police may also be impleaded in the same.

On the submissions of Advocate Maninder Singh that it is irrational that Remdesivir is only given to the admitted patients, Trivedi also went ahead to suggest that there can be a centralised portal created containing details of the availability of critical covid Drugs.

At the outset, the Bench told Mehra "Your order saying Remdesivir should be given only to those admitted is completely unreasonable. If you have availability in hospitals that would be one thing. But you don't. Then how can you say if you don't have a hospital bed, you can't get Remdesivir."

Furthermore, pulling up the Delhi Government for not doing anything on the aspect of black marketing and hoarding on both medicines and oxygen, the Bench directed that a day to day account as regards to the stock of Remdesivir and other drugs with all pharmacies be given to keep a check on the issue of hoarding.

During the course of hearing today, the Bench also observed that the Delhi Government was passing orders and issuing directions as if they are living in a completely different world, are out of sync and don't know the ground reality. The said observation came after the Bench was informed about the order issued by GNCTD on 25th April asking hospitals to attend to the patients who come in their emergency.

Read Also: [Supply Of Oxygen]"Seems You Are Passing Orders As If Living In A Completely Different World": Delhi High Court Tells Delhi Govt.

Edited by Nupur Thapliyal