Ensure meds, equipment not sold above MRP: HC to govt
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Sunday directed the Delhi government to ensure that medicines and equipment like oxygen cylinders and concentrators needed for COVID-19 treatment not be sold above the maximum retail price (MRP) and directed it along with the Delhi Police Commissioner to widely publicise the one-stop helpline number to report incidents of black marketing of such goods.
A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli directed the government to book those persons found hoarding or black-marketing medicines and equipment related to COVID-19 and be brought before the court for taking independent contempt action against them.
The direction was issued after the court was informed by some lawyers that there was rampant overcharging of medicines and equipment.
Subsequently, senior advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for the Delhi government, told the court that Delhi Police had set up a helpline — 33469900 — for receiving complaints about malpractices like overcharging for ambulances, hoarding or black-marketing of medicines, equipment.
He urged the court to direct that the helpline be widely publicised so that people can inform authorities about such unscrupulous activities and action can be taken against the same.
Taking note of the submission, the court directed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) and police to give wide publicity to the helpline number.
In fact, during the hearing, while addressing the issue of black marketing leading to a dry market, the court also suggested that officials of the ICMR appear before the court and apprise it of plans to release videos or information about how to use oxygen and what is needed.
In addition to this, the court also directed the law enforcement authorities to report their seizures from the black market to the Amicus in a format that clearly shows which facilities have these life-saving equipment been sent to.
The issue regarding overcharging, hoarding and black marketing of medicines and equipment related to COVID-19 was brought to the attention of the bench during hearing of an application moved by the Centre for recall of the court's May 1 direction to it to supply the entire oxygen allocated to Delhi.
The court had also warned of initiating contempt action against officials concerned, if the oxygen was not supplied, and the Centre wanted recall of that observation as well.
