In Brief
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the High Court of Delhi issued a contempt notice against the Union Government for allegedly failing to supply 700 MT of oxygen daily to Delhi, as directed by the Supreme Court. The Union Government challenged this notice via Special Leave Petition. The Supreme Court stayed the contempt proceedings but reaffirmed the 700 MT daily supply direction, finding the Union's plan unsuitable due to multiple conditions and caveats. The Court established a 12-member National Task Force of renowned medical experts to devise a scientific, rational methodology for allocating oxygen to all States/Union Territories and conduct audits. The Task Force was directed to commence work immediately, with terms including recommendations on allocation methodology, audits, medicines, preparedness, and addressing distribution bottlenecks. The Union Government must continue current allocations pending Task Force recommendations.
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