[BREAKING] Delhi High Court orders Central govt to ensure urgent supply of Oxygen at six Max hospitals with over 1,400 Covid patients

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday ordered the Central government to ensure that six Max hospitals in the national capital which are housing over 1,400 COVID-19 patients, get urgent supply of Oxygen..A Bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli held a special sitting at 8 PM and directed the government to ensure that Oxygen is supplied to the hospitals by "whatever means" even if it means entire production from industries is diverted for medical use. ."We direct Central government 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 responsibility falls on Central government to ensure supply. If necessary, Centre should divert entire supply from industries particularly steel and petroleum," the Court said. .The Court was hearing a plea filed by Balaji Medical and Research Centre, which owns the hospitals, stating that if supply of Oxygen is not replenished on an immediate basis, the lives of the patients who are critical and on Oxygen support will be endangered. The following are the six hospitals and the patient count as stated in the petition:.During the hearing, it was pointed out that Inox Air was supplying Oxygen to the fullest capacity. "The demand for oxygen by Max and others dealing with #COVID19 patients has gone up many fold. Supply of oxygen from established sources like Inox is not able to meet the demand," the Court noted in its order while directing Central government to take urgent measures. .The Central government told the Court that it has requisitioned extra oxygen for Delhi. "It is being implemented as we speak," said advocate Anil Soni for the Centre.But the Bench was not impressed. "It's no solace to anybody that you are supplying 400 MT.. centre has all the power and resources at their command.. Even Tata is supplying. Mr Tata will be willing to help. Everyone must be willing to help at this moment," the Court remarked. .The Court also observed that transportation of Oxygen cylinders could be a roadblock."Central govt should consider ways and means of transporting Oxygen from plants by either creating a dedicated corridor so that the supply lines are not affected or air lifting the same," the Court ordered."This is all that we can say at this stage. What do we do," the Court added not hiding its helplessness.Max Hospital was represented by Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi with Advocate Mahesh Agarwal. Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar along with Khaitan & Co Partner Ajay Bhargava represented Inox. Advocate Anil Soni appeared for the State government.