New Delhi: The Center has said the Delhi High Court not to allow states to buy oxygen on their own. Solicitor General Thushar Mehta told the court that despite the oxygen shortage in the country, states are not allowed to buy or store oxygen and the central government should supply oxygen. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had written to businessman Sanjay Jindal asking for oxygen tankers. Following this, the Center took a stand in the High Court.
Meanwhile, the court expressed dissatisfaction with the central and state governments for exacerbating the oxygen shortage. The court asked the Solicitor General how 21 deaths could have occurred at the Jaipur Golden Hospital if the center had supplied oxygen properly. Solicitor General Thushar Mehta said the deaths at the Golden Hospital were not due to non-delivery by the Center and that the Union Home Minister had told them that oxygen tankers should be treated as ambulances.