Centre's Appeal Against Delhi HC's Contempt Show-Cause Notice Over Oxygen Non-Supply : Live Updates From Supreme Court

Justice Shah: What is required is that it must reach the hospitals, how it reaches the citizens. You cannot deny that people are dying due to want of oxygen. Nobody is saying that you’re not doing anything and there may be failure in the system.

SG: Let us try to present an exercise to see what is lacking in the system. This is not for apportioning blame. 

Justice Shah: Requirement cannot be static, it fluctuates. It cannot be that 1000 beds are there, so that much oxygen is required.

SG: There is a possibility that there is a systemic failure at our end or their end, but it would not be proper - let there be an audit by an independent committee as to what is the real problem. There is Dr. Guleria or experts from other places.

SG: It is my assumption That a particular quantity is needed which is not reflected on the ground. There are three possibilities - either I am completely wrong or Mr. Mehra is completely. Or we are partly wrong and partly right.

Justice Shah: We know the problem, we are trying to solve the problem. This is not the time for this. How best the result can be achieved and how lives of citizens can be saved. 

SG: We will try our best to reach 700. But, please allow me 3 minutes. 

Bench: Tell us.

Sr. Adv. Jaideep Gupta: There are thousands of people outside the hospital who are asking for oxygen.  

Justice Shah: Exactly, we can’t go by beds only. 

Justice Chandrachud: Yes, people are outside the hospitals and asking for oxygen.

Justice Chandrachud: We are answerable to the citizens. As Judges we don’t have contact with as many people as you are. But, officers in my office, lawyers are crying, asking for help. 550 is not sufficient. 

#DelhiHighCourt #SupremeCourt #OxygenShortage 

SG: I have one suggestion. I am only concentrating on residents. According to me, if they have 500, they will be able to manage. We don’t have unlimited oxygen, we will have to rationalise. 

Justice Chandrachud: At an institutional level, I cannot accept that. We have said 700.

Justice Chandrachud: When you invite global tenders, you can’t be placing private placement offers. Please take care of individual offers that are created. 

Justice Shah: There is a provision under DMA which can be exercised by Centre.

Justice Chandrachud: Is this coming from Abu Dhabi ?

Goyal: This is from Dubai. 

Justice Chandrachud: Pending the globalised tender, you placed orders from Abu Dhabi and SIngapore.