New Delhi: The Supreme Court has reported the action taken on the recommendations of the National Task Force on the allocation of oxygen to the states and union territories during the Covid-19 epidemic. On Monday, directed the Center to present it within two weeks.
A bench of Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and Justice MR Shah said that since this national task force comprises of senior doctors and experts from across the country, the Center will have to ensure that it tackles any emergency situation in the present and near future. To take all necessary steps for the duly implementation of these recommendations at the policy level.
The bench adjourned the matter for a week and listed it as a matter of suo moto cognizance of the preparedness of Kovid. The top court said the task force has submitted its final report and the sub-committee on oxygen requirement in the national capital has also given its interim report.
The top court was hearing a plea of the central government challenging the order of the Delhi High Court to initiate contempt proceedings against the central government officials. The High Court had asked the authorities to initiate proceedings against the authorities for non-compliance with its order to supply 700 metric tonnes of medical class oxygen for COVID-19 patients in the national capital.
Advocate Rajat Nair, appearing for Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s office, initially said that a letter has been sent last evening and he needs some time to inform him about the steps taken on the recommendations of the NTF.
The bench told Nair that it wanted to know how the government was implementing the recommendations of the NTF. Senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, who has been appointed as amicus curiae in the matter, said the sub-committee set up to assess the oxygen allocation to Delhi has given its interim report and the court should not waste its time in looking into it.
Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for the Delhi government, said that he agrees with Gupta’s submission but only wanted to state that he has objected to the outcome of the interim report given by the sub-committee. Mehra requested the court to take up the matter with the matter of suo moto cognizance related to preparedness for Kovid as all the states are involved in it.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, said the final report of the NTF and the interim report of the sub-committee were submitted on June 22. The bench then directed that all reports are taken on record and the Center should be informed of the steps taken on the recommendations of the NTF.
The bench, in its order, said, “It would be appropriate if this matter is also taken up with the matter of suo moto cognizance of preparedness for Covid. List the matter after two weeks.
The bench also asked Gupta and senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, another amicus curiae in the case, to give a short note before the next date of hearing in the matter as to what could be the way forward, “so that we can be ready for the third wave.
