Sakshi Chhabra
The Karnataka government rushed to the Supreme Court after an order passed by the Karnataka High Court directed the Centre to increase the liquid medical oxygen supply (LMO) in the State from 962MT per day to 1200MT per day.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta filed the plea before a Bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah.
The matter is listed to be heard today.
The Centre stated that the Karnataka High Court failed to consider that a certain amount of oxygen supply is allocated to every state and purely on the grounds of purported shortage in Bangalore, passed directions if fulfilled will have a stumbling effect and the system will completely collapse in its fight against the ongoing second wave of COVID-19.
The petition filed clearly stated that “It is most important to note that the entire nation is feeling the effects of the ongoing second wave of Coronavirus and in such a situation it is imperative that the limited resources available at the disposal of the entire nation (in this case, oxygen supply) be put to its most judicial use, keeping in mind the overall situation in the country. Thereby passing directions in nature and manner the Karnataka High Court has done, would ultimately lead to mismanagement of resources and further create a chaotic environment in an already overburdened system.”
