According to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the country is in dire need of oxygen. Vedanta wants to make its plant operational but it should be allowed operational to produce only oxygen for health purposes.
The application further stated that the High Courts appear to be best suited to deal with the situation, while seeking direction to allow the High Courts to continue dealing with the present issue.
The relief has been sought in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing declaration of national lockdown leading to acute hunger, distress and the denial of right to food
In initial discussions, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Chief Justice that Delhi and some other courts have taken suo motu cognisance, but there is a person, Mr Malhotra, who made an application regarding the suo motu case.
SG Mehta informed the court that oxygen can be produced at the Vedanta plant, which was closed in Tamil Nadu. “We can reopen it to produce medical oxygen.”
Advocate Prabhsahay Kaur through the petition sought the direction to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Government of NCT of Delhi and to its vendor INOX Air Products LTD to immediately supply 3000 cubit metres of LMO to Saroj Super Speciality Hospital.
The PIL said that every political party should understand that the common people are not taking it in good spirit, because saving lives should be the paramount objective of the government.
A Single Judge Bench of Justice Navin Chawla had, on April 13, reserved its order on two separate petitions moved by the social media giant and the messaging app.