Healthcare: CJ-led Bench unhappy; asks government to respond properly

JAMMU : Expressing its dissatisfaction over the deficient reply of state government in a Public Interest Litigation regarding better facilities in government hospital in Jammu, the state high-court on Thursday returned its affidavit and directed to file better affidavit giving full details, within 4 weeks.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Kumar reprimanded the state government, asserting that it was the duty of the State and the government, being the executive wing of-the State, to provide adequate funding and infrastructure for proper health care of its citizens.

The excuse of lack of funds or resources cannot be taken any longer, DB said.

When the PIL came-up for hearing, DB observed that this court had given several directions while noticing the deplorable state of affairs with regard to the availability of hospital beds, availability of doctors including specialists and professors and availability of medical care equipments particularly in critical care areas, ambulances and the medicines and other surgical supplies.

“This court also listed this matter after a short date in the hope that the government would come out with a plan of action, but the affidavit which is proposed to have been filed by Deputy AG, a copy of which has been shown to us, is as deficient as the requirements of medical care in the State and particularly within the city of Jammu,” the bench observed.

After gone through the affidavit, Division Bench returned the affidavit and asked him to file a better affidavit giving full details, as directed by the court in the previous order.

“It is clear that the general answer given is that the action is proposed to be taken on various aspects and is subject to availability of funds. This is not a satisfactory answer.

“A comprehensive affidavit be filed with regard to the points we have indicated in the previous order specifically dealing with the actions taken and to be taken for providing proper medical facilities to the people of Jammu. The said affidavit be filed positively within four weeks. The respondents shall also file a similar affidavit with regard to the hospitals within the Jammu Province,” the court ruled.

DB also appointed Advocates Himanshu Beotra and Harshwardhan Gupta, who are present in Court are appointed as amicii curiae and directed that the digital copy of the paper book be given to them so that they may assist the Court on the future dates of hearing.