Supreme Court refuses to stay Karnataka HC order on more oxygen to state

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Supreme Court refuses to stay Karnataka HC order on more oxygen to state

The Supreme Court on Friday turned down the Central government's plea to stay the Karnataka high court order directing it to immediately increase the supply of medical oxygen to the state from 962 metric tonnes (MT) per day to 1,200 MT per day in view of the spurt in the number of active Covid-19 cases.

"We can't keep people of Karnataka in the lurch," said a bench of justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah.

The bench added that the high court order was a "careful, calibrated and judicious exercise of power" and required no intervention of the top court.

On May 5, while hearing a public interest litigation, the high court had noted that the projected requirement of oxygen in Karnataka was 1,471 MT per day as on April 30, 2021, whereas the Centre had agreed to enhance it from 862 MT to only 962 MT per day. It also recorded a statement of Karnataka's additional chief secretary that the requirement of oxygen in the state was likely to go up to 1,792 MT by May 5, 2021.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/supreme-court-refuses-to-stay-karnataka-hc-order-on-more-oxygen-to-state-101620367918079.html