Central government lost its case in the Supreme Court against a High Court order. The case was filed asking to increase supply of medical oxygen to Karnataka for Covid patients by centre government. The apex court said “We cannot leave the people of Karnataka in the lurch.”
The judges stated that the Karnataka High Court order is a careful, calibrated exercise and we see no reason to entertain the Centre’s appeal. The Centre requested the Supreme Court yesterday to “urgently” put on hold the ruling. The ruling was asked to increase the daily liquid medical oxygen allocation for Karnataka to 1,200 MT. Advocate Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said Karnataka was being supplied 965 MT oxygen. There was “no rationale” to that order. The Centre even argued over the Karnataka High Court order referring if an example that what if every High Court starts passing such orders then will it be workable.Mr Mehta said the Centre was ready to sit with Karnataka and resolve iit Justice DY Chandrachud said “even with 3.95 lakh cases”, Karnataka had requested 1700 tonnes of oxygen and 1100 MT was the minimum requirement. In the reply to centre, Supreme Court said it would “interfere” at an appropriate stage. The Supreme Court from several days has been hearing disputes between the centre and various states over the supply of oxygen and other essential resources.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court already ordered the Centre to supply 700 metric tonnes of oxygen to Delhi everyday “till further orders.”
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