New Delhi: The Supreme Court has instructed the center to set up a buffer stockpile of oxygen for emergency purposes in conjunction with states and to decentralize the location of the supplies so that they are immediately available if the normal supply chain is disrupted.
A three-judge bench under Judge DY Chandrachud said emergency supplies would be created and replenished on a daily basis within the next four days, in addition to the existing allocation of medical oxygen supply to the states.
‘We recommend the central government, in cooperation with the states, to prepare a buffer stockpile of oxygen to be used for emergency purposes to ensure that supply lines function even in unforeseen circumstances. The location of the emergency supplies must be decentralized to be available immediately if the normal supply chain is interrupted for any hospital for any reason, ‘the bank said.
‘The emergency supplies will be created within the next four days. The replenishment of emergency supplies will also be monitored by the virtual control room on a real-time basis, in active consultation with each state / UT. It is in addition to the everyday awards, ”he added.
Noting that the situation at the site in Delhi is sad, the High Court also instructed the center to ensure that the shortage in the supply of oxygen to the national capital is corrected before midnight on 3 May.
It is said that the lives of citizens cannot be jeopardized in the struggle to shift the responsibility for the supply of oxygen.
“Protecting the lives of citizens is of paramount importance in times of a national crisis, and the responsibility falls on the central government and the GNCTD to work together to ensure that all possible measures are taken to address the situation. solve, “the bank also said. consisting of judges L Nageswara Rao and Ravindra Bhat said.
On the issue of hospital treatment, the Supreme Court instructed the center to draw up a national policy on hospital admissions within two weeks following the second wave. COVID-19.
“Until the formulation of such a policy by the central government, no patient may be denied hospitalization or essential medicine in any state / UT, as there is no local evidence of the state / UT or even in the absence of proof of identity, said the bank. said.
It has also instructed the center and the governments to inform that any restriction on information on social media or harassment caused by individuals seeking help on any platform will attract coercive action.
“The central government and state governments will notify all Secretaries-General, Director-General of Police, Police Commissioners that any combating information on social media or harassment caused to individuals seeking help on any platform will attract a coercive jurisdiction by this court.
“The registrar (judicial) is also ordered to place a copy of this order before all district magistrates in the country,” he said in an order uploaded to the SC website late Sunday night.
The Supreme Court also ordered the center to review its initiatives and protocols, including the availability of oxygen, the availability and price of vaccines, and the availability of essential medicines at affordable prices.
It asked senior advocates Jaideep Gupta and Meenakshi Arora, appointed as amicus curiae, to compile and compile these proposals submitted by different parties.
The case is set for the next trial on May 10.
The directions were passed on in a suo motu case to ensure essential supplies and services during the year COVID-19 pandemic.
The bank has addressed issues such as the projected demand for oxygen in the country at present and in the near future, how the government intends to allocate it to states with a critical influence and its monitoring mechanism to ensure supply.
The Supreme Court had earlier made it clear that any attempt to impair the free flow of information on social media, including a call for help from people, would be considered contempt of court.
‘There must be a free flow of information; we need to hear voices from citizens. This is a national crisis. There may be no suspicion that the grievances raised on the internet are always false. “Let a strong message be sent to all the DGPs that there may not be a collapse,” the bank said while reserving its order on April 30.
Source: Telangana Today