Mumbai: Bombay High Court on Saturday directed the state govt to inform it about the budgetary allocation made to two state departments that provide health services and the expenditure incurred after it was told only 6% of the budget for medicines was utilised in 2024-25 so far.
“We also direct that the affidavit shall disclose, in case budgetary allocation was not utilised by these departments, the reasons therefore shall also be given in the affidavit,” said Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar. They directed the state to file two affidavits, sworn in by responsible officers of the department of medical education and research, which oversees medical colleges and tertiary care hospitals, and the public health department, which runs secondary and primary level hospitals.
The court was hearing a suo motu PIL initiated after deaths at two govt hospitals in Nanded and Sambhajinagar in Sept-Oct 2023. While the judges said they would dispose of the PIL with directions, amicus curiae advocate Mohit Khanna urged setting up of a committee of experts as done by HCs for Goa and in Delhi. He said there were “sporadic incidents” in other districts and referred to two news reports, including one of a pregnant woman dying in a poorly equipped ambulance in Palghar.
NGO Jan Arogya Abhiyan‘s advocate Lara Jesani also said a committee should be set up. The judges were disinclined to do so and monitor its functioning. “The problem is we don’t want to run a parallel administration. Setting up a committee etc looks very nice. It is basically the responsibility of the state,” the CJ said
Jesani said despite HC directions, there were no improvements, “except for a few vacancies being filled”. She said the NGO’s latest report card of Nanded shows “the situation has not changed, expert doctors have still not been appointed, and incidents are reoccurring.” Jessani also said “6% only of the medicines budget was utilised by the govt so far”. Government pleader Neha Bhide referred to the state’s latest affidavit that “budgetary allocation and expenditure are already provided,” but the CJ said “you (the state) will file fresh information”.
The judges said they would not dispose of the PIL “at the moment”. They also directed the affidavits shall give “details of vacancy/occupancy in the medical, non-medical, and para-medical posts in the entire state of Maharashtra in all govt hospitals/medical colleges district-wise”.
Similarly, the Maharashtra Public Service Commission will give details “in respect of posts which fall within its purview”. They adjourned the hearing to Jan 29.
Mumbai: Bombay High Court on Saturday directed the state govt to inform it about the budgetary allocation made to two state departments that provide health services and the expenditure incurred after it was told only 6% of the budget for medicines was utilised in 2024-25 so far.
“We also direct that the affidavit shall disclose, in case budgetary allocation was not utilised by these departments, the reasons therefore shall also be given in the affidavit,” said Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar. They directed the state to file two affidavits, sworn in by responsible officers of the department of medical education and research, which oversees medical colleges and tertiary care hospitals, and the public health department, which runs secondary and primary level hospitals.
The court was hearing a suo motu PIL initiated after deaths at two govt hospitals in Nanded and Sambhajinagar in Sept-Oct 2023. While the judges said they would dispose of the PIL with directions, amicus curiae advocate Mohit Khanna urged setting up of a committee of experts as done by HCs for Goa and in Delhi. He said there were “sporadic incidents” in other districts and referred to two news reports, including one of a pregnant woman dying in a poorly equipped ambulance in Palghar.
NGO Jan Arogya Abhiyan’s advocate Lara Jesani also said a committee should be set up. The judges were disinclined to do so and monitor its functioning. “The problem is we don’t want to run a parallel administration. Setting up a committee etc looks very nice. It is basically the responsibility of the state,” the CJ said
Jesani said despite HC directions, there were no improvements, “except for a few vacancies being filled”. She said the NGO’s latest report card of Nanded shows “the situation has not changed, expert doctors have still not been appointed, and incidents are reoccurring.” Jessani also said “6% only of the medicines budget was utilised by the govt so far”. Government pleader Neha Bhide referred to the state’s latest affidavit that “budgetary allocation and expenditure are already provided,” but the CJ said “you (the state) will file fresh information”.
The judges said they would not dispose of the PIL “at the moment”. They also directed the affidavits shall give “details of vacancy/occupancy in the medical, non-medical, and para-medical posts in the entire state of Maharashtra in all govt hospitals/medical colleges district-wise”.
Similarly, the Maharashtra Public Service Commission will give details “in respect of posts which fall within its purview”. They adjourned the hearing to Jan 29.
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