'If Tatas Can Divert Their Oxygen, Why Can't Others? This Is Height Of Greed' : Delhi High Court Wants Industries To Supply Oxygen For COVID Emergency

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday observed that steel and petroleum industries should divert their oxygen stock to address the medical emergency in the capital city on account of the COVID19 surge.

A division bench comprising Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli was holding a special sitting on Wednesday night at 8 PM to hear an urgent petition filed by Max Hospital highlighting acute oxygen deficiency.

"We direct Centre to protect right to life of citizens who are seriously ill and require medical oxygen and to supply the same by whatever means it is required", the bench observed during the hearing.

The bench 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.

"If Tatas can divert their oxygen, why can't others do it ? This is the height of greed if we can say that. There is no humanity left or what?", the bench asked.

"How is this that the government is so oblivious to the ground reality. We can't have people die?", the bench asked the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Family and Health Welfare who was present during the virtual hearing.

"We are shocked and dismayed that the government does not seem to be mindful to the extremely urgent need of medical oxygen", the bench observed.

"The reality is that there is no oxygen. You have to arrange. Hospitals have run dry", the bench told the Centre's officers.

The bench dictated an order to direct Centre to take over production of oxygen from steel plants, if necessary from petroleum plants for supply to oxygen even if it means that such industries have to stop production for the time being.

The order also directed that such industries particularly Steel to make their oxygen production available to Central Government.

While the bench was finishing the dictation, Central Government Counsel made a request not to finalize the order and requested for an adjournment till tomorrow so that the secretaries of the concerned departments can address the court.

The bench refused to grant the adjournment till tomorrow and said that it will defer the proceedings for 30 minutes. The bench will re-assemble at 9.20 PM.