Reorient oxygen supply for Punjab, Haryana: HC

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7

The residents of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh appear to be “children of a lesser god”, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asserted before directing the Centre to consider reorientation of oxygen supply for ensuring timely availability to the states for preventing loss of life. Describing the situation as “critical” warranting “immediate attention of the Union of India”, the Bench of Justice Rajan Gupta and Justice Karamjit Singh said the governments must draw a common strategy.

The assertions came after amicus curiae Rupinder Khosla, the Congress-led Punjab Government and BJP-led Haryana Government attacked the Centre for complete disarray following oxygen shortfall. They submitted that instead of satisfying the oxygen requirements from nearby plants, the deficit was being fulfilled by transporting it from far-off places.

Haryana Advocate General Baldev Raj Mahajan submitted that the delay resulting from oxygen allocation from far-off places such as Rourkela and Jamnagar had led to several deaths in the state.

“Whatever has been submitted by the amicus curiae and the advocates-general of Punjab and Haryana, it appears that the residents of these three states (Chandigarh included) are children of a lesser god… Why are you (Centre) being mute spectators and why do you need directions from various courts? We do not understand. Is there a proper strategy or left to the itsy-bitsy of certain officials?” the Bench asserted.

Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain said the oxygen allocation was being done equitably to all states without discrimination. He said the Centre had enhanced oxygen supply to 227 MT for Punjab, 267 MT for Haryana and 40 MT for Chandigarh.