Health infrastructure is dismal: Technically and legally too Delhi high court is not satisfied with health minister and LG

Health infrastructure is dismal: Technically and legally too Delhi high court is not satisfied with health minister and LG

The Delhi High Court recently took oath with frustration over the squabbling of the AAP led Delhi government and Lt Governor VK Saxena over the situation in Delhi’s state-run hospitals.

Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora observed that while one hand health minister Saurabh Bhardwaj was pointing the officials for this wretched state, on the other, the Administrator of Delhi (LG) was pointing fingers at the political masters.

It is quite ridiculous that there is no harmony between the Health Minister and the bureaucrats due to which poor health infrastructure in Delhi is being maintained and the sufferers are the poorer public, the Bench remarked.

“It is relevant to make a mention of the fact this Court had called upon the Health Secretary, GNCTD and the Health Minister, GNCTD some months back in another contempt proceeding and orally advised them that since they are officials of the GNCTD it would be in the best interest if they sit together and amicably start working for betterment of health care of the citizens of Delhi But it appears that that suggestion has not been liked

The Bench directed LG to organise a meeting within a week with the Health Minister & Administrator, the Chief Secretary, Secretary Health & Family Welfare, Secretary Services & Secretary Administrative Reforms to discuss about creating 38,000 new posts of doctors, specialists & paramedics in the next 24 upcoming hospitals in Delhi.

Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and have made a recommendation using Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora.
Presiding over the Governor house was Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora
The order was made in a PIL in connection with the overall health care situation in Delhi for which the court took suo motu cognizance.

They were mostly twelve membered and the Court had earlier constituted an expert committee headed by Dr. SK Sarin to make recommendations about the ways of strengthening the healthcare systems in the national capital. The committee provided a report of its findings to the Court in the following way.

Following the preparation of the report, Dr. Sarin sent a letter inform the High Court that four doctors were willing to withdraw from the case. The letter argued it may at time prove difficult for them in regard to the actualization of the report given the fact that they operate under the Delhi government.

All was not well in the health department claimed the Court after the recusal of the four senior doctors.

The Bench then went ahead to order the Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to adhere to the fruition of the reports provided by Dr. Sarin committee.

“The Chief Secretary GNCTD, Finance Secretary of GNCTD and Principal Secretary (Home), GNCTD are hereby ordered to ensure that decision taken by the Director AIIMS Delhi should be implemented immediately including decision to recruit paramedics or staff or Doctors on contractual basis will not appointed till permanent recruitment through DSSSB or UPSC takes place ,” the order mentioned.

Mr. Ashok Agarwal was appointed as an amicus curiae to plead the case before the court. He was ably supported by the following advocates; Kumar Utkarsh, Ashna Khan and Manoj Kumar.

On behalf of the Union of India, the Central Government Standing Counsel, Kirtiman Singh along with advocate Waize Ali Noor ,Ranjeev Khatana and Varun Pratap Singh and Maulik Khurrana.

For the Delhi government, Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra was accompanied by advocates Satyakam, Chaitany Gosain and Pradyut Kashyap.