Oxygen Quota: Supreme Court Backs Karnataka’s Demand For 1200 MT Daily

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to interfere with a Karnataka High Court that directed the Central government to increase the state’s daily quota of liquid medical oxygen from 965 MT to 1200 MT.

Rejecting the Centre’s challenge against the HC order, the top court called it a “well calibrated and judicious exercise of power”.

An SC bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah observed that the Karnataka HC had examined the demand correctly. “We will not leave the citizens of Karnataka in the lurch,” Justice Chandrachud was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

The bench also refused to accept the Centre’s argument that if every high court start passing orders for allocating oxygen, the supply network of the country would devolve into chaos.

In a related development, Justice Chandrachud told the Centre that 700 MT of medical oxygen has to be supplied to Delhi on a daily basis.

“Every single day, 700 MT oxygen must be given to Delhi hospitals. We need business and until that order is modified, please comply with our directions,” India Today quoted the judge as saying.