Allahabad; 05 May 2021 (UMMN): While hearing a PIL, judges of the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday made the observations that Covid-19 patients dying due to oxygen shortage is “is a criminal act and not less than a genocide”.
The court observed that “death of Covid patients just for non-supplying of oxygen to the hospitals is a criminal act and not less than a genocide” by those responsible for ensuring the continuous procurement and supply of medical oxygen.
A Bench of Justices Siddhartha Varma and Ajit Kumar asked “how can we let people die in this way” and said they “find it necessary to direct for immediate remedial measures to be taken by the government”.
According to The Indian Express, the court asked the DMs to look into the news reports within 48 hours and submit their reports by Friday, the next date of hearing. The officials were also instructed to appear for the hearing.
The court said stories of oxygen shortage going viral on social media were showing “harassment meted out” by the district administrations and the police “to those poor citizens who were begging for an oxygen cylinder to save the life of their near and dear ones”.
The order mentioned news reports about the deaths of five patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a new trauma centre at the Meerut Medical College on Sunday and fatalities at the Sun Hospital in Lucknow.
“We find these news items showing a quite contrary picture to one claimed by the Government that there was sufficient supply of oxygen,” and added that “any slackness on the part of the Election Commission” on the issue of reported deaths of officials on poll duty during panchayat polls “will not be tolerated”.
The court was informed that during the counting of votes for the gram panchayat polls, Covid protocols and guidelines “were definitely flouted”.
