Thread by @indialegalmedia

#DelhiHC begins hearing two hospitals plea for supply of oxygen

Priyadarshini Manish for MKS Super Speciality - I have around 90 COVID patients. I wish My Lords pass a direction for uninterrupted supply of Oxygen to my hospital.

Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra shares an order - Here are the contacts who can refill the oxygen. Nodal officers number also mentioned.

Prime Minister held meetings with various CM including our CM. The Railways too is working in this direction - Mehra

Mehra: Things are moving in the right direction. It will take some time to streamline.

Corridor is not a distant dream. It is operational. We have to give time to Centre and Railways.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta joins the proceedings - I agree with my friend on this. The system is in place.

There is a nodal officer for Delhi govt and Centre unit.

PM has impressed upon all the Chief Ministers to not interfere with free flow of oxygen

SG: Constitutionally it is unthinkable to send paramilitary forces.

SG says that all have unanimously agreed that the supply would go unhindered.

There is a Control Room of the Centre which interacts with the Nodal officers of each states: Mehta

All these officers are Secretary level officers: Mehta as he asks the petitioners to approach the Nodal officers.

Mehta says that the State govt shall publicise the name and contact of their nodal officers with the hospitals so that the hospitals know whom to approach.

There is a virtual control room which has a lot of officers. There is a Whatsapp group (Virtual Control Room) where problems are addressed immediately and solutions are given thereof: SG Mehta

Does nobody from the Railways form part of the control room? : Court

It is for procurement. We can get him added : SG Mehta

Delhi Govt nodal officer Udit joins the proceedings

Court asks Udit if he is aware of the platform (Control Room)

Yes, I'm aware of the platform: Udit

Court: So you're the person to be contacted for Delhi..

You're bridge between the consumer and officers?

Udit affirms

Solicitor General: You're holding a very position. There would be circumstances you might get exhausted at times.

At times you'll have to keep your cool. There will be hospitals in dire need

Mehra: He's the best person for the job

Court advises that some more officials be added keeping in view of the large number of hospitals in the need.

Manish: The ground reality is totally different. I was aware of the order.

From 5 am my cylinder was lying there and the nodal officer was not responding to the phone call.

Rahul Mehra: I would suggest that in case any hospital is not able to contact the Nodal officers they can contact me or Mr Satyakam.

I am duty bound not as a lawyer but as a citizen first. I would be happy to help.

Senior Adv Siddharth Dave for Batra Hospital:

We 160 patients in ICU and others in the ward. We approached the Nodal officer yesterday but nothing happened.

We are COVID reserved facility. We require 7-8k L of oxygen. We got 1000 litres yesterday but it would get over in next 5-6 hours.

We require LMO. We are not a nursing home. We are a COVID dedicated hospital. We don't have a choice.

Mehra taking the court through allocation chart

Big Hospitals are facing the heat because INOX's allocation has been brought down: Mehra

Mehra suggests that if Delhi can get oxygen from Dehradun and other nearby plants for 2-3 days.

Court says that utilisation of tanks etc can become effective

If we have very long distance to cover, each trip is going to take time. Maybe you have plants in UP.

SG Mehta: It appears to be a logical thing. I don't think several people taking decision would have missed.

Mehta suggests that some govt representative of Delhi govt to speak to the virtual control room.

Mehra: Mr Mehta is a very powerful person irrespective of what he thinks of himself.

One call from Mr Mehta to whomsoever can make the suggestion fructify. It will cut the red tapism.

Ask your Chief Secretary to speak to the empowered group of Home Secy.

I'll definitely put it to them but it doesn't mean that you and I start deciding these issues : SG Mehta

Court dictating order.

Notice issued

Court records that Mr Udit has been made aware and instructed to immediately take steps.

Court: We have suggested to Mr Mehra that it is desirable to have more persons working with Mr Udit Prakash and their numbers be circulated

It further notes that before filing of any petition, Mr Mehra and Satyakam can be contacted.

We'll try and sort things out instead of becoming a post box: Mehra

Court records SG's statement regarding the virtual control room and the names of the officers who are a part of it.

Mehra suggests that a Whatsapp group be created having Delhi govt nodal officers and representative from each hospital.

Court: There would be 1000s of messages, you won't be able to handle it.

You'll receive roses and good morning messages once requirements are met: Justice Palli

I'll pass these (roses) to Mr Mehta

Court: We have put it to the Solicitor General that the empowered group could look at the possibility of making re allocation so that to reduce the distance.

Let secretary health Delhi govt examine the entire allocation plan and make a suggestion and place it before the central government: Court

*Can CNG cylinders be used for transportation: Court*

*If you can use them, that could be used to provide oxygen. That could be a way out : Court*

*These cylinders could be filed up and supplies can be made*

Mr Senthil, an officer from the Central government joins the proceedings

Senthil: Pressure and temperature requirements aren't feasible for transporting Oxygen

Just find out if CNG cylinders can be used for transportation : Court

*I'll get back to you after getting in touch with relevant technical officers: Senthil*

Court says the suggestion is only for short distance travel

An advocate points out that there is a rule prohibiting refiling of cylinders used for one gas with another gas.

There must be the power to exempt : Court

There is a rule of conversion of cylinders in the same rule also: Adv Satyakam

Court records the submissions made by Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave regarding supply of O2 to Batra Hospital

Court adjourns the matter for Monday

Hospitals across Delhi have stopped admissions primarily because of oxygen : Mehra

This is something.. you have to assure them: Court asks Mehra

Now system is in place: ASG Chetan Sharma

SG Mehta assured 480MT would come.. it was because of that we held back our order. 480 MT has not come: Court

Court records submission on this aspect:-
We may emphasize that an assurance was given my Mr Mehta that the allocation made for Delhi would be met. However, that has not fructified primarily for the reason that the point of supply are in Rourkela, Durgapur and Kalinga Nagar.

Hearing ends @MoHFW_INDIA @AamAadmiParty #OxygenCrisis