T

he Allahabad High Court on Tuesday observed that the death of Covid patients just because of non-supply of oxygen to hospitals is a criminal act. In stern remarks on the Covid deaths, the court said that the deaths are "not less than a genocide" by authorities who have been entrusted with the task of ensuring that the oxygen supply chain is maintained. 

The remarks of the High Court were in response to the news that has been circulating on social media regarding the death of COVID-19 patients due to lack of oxygen in Lucknow and Meerut districts. The court has ordered a probe into the incidents. It explained that normally, it would not have directed the state and district administration to inquire into such news that has been viralled on social media, but since the advocates who were appearing in the PIL supported such news and even submitted that more or less situations in other districts of the state were the same, it found it necessary to direct for immediate remedial measures to be taken by the government.

A bench of two judges, Justice Siddharth Verma and Justice Ajit Kumar passed the order on a Public Interest Litigation on the spread of COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh. "How can we let our people die in this way when science is so advanced that even heart transplantation and brain surgery are taking place these days," the court added. The court has directed the District Magistrates of Lucknow and Meerut to inquire into the matter within 48 hours and has asked them to submit the report on the next date. They will have to appear online before the court.