Ambulance stationed at District Courts

Ishrat S Banwait

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 20

After Chandigarh Tribune highlighted how ill-equipped the District Courts were in handling medical emergencies, the in-house ambulance was today seen stationed near the spot where a woman litigant had suffered an attack on Tuesday. However, the ambulance, introduced in November last year, still has a temporary registration number plate.

On Tuesday afternoon, a woman litigant sitting in the complex in the open area between the courts and the lawyers’ chambers suffered an attack and the in-house ambulance could not be summoned. The PCR vehicle also arrived after around 15 minutes.

The in-house ambulance could not be summoned as no one in the area, including police personnel posted in the court, knew how to summon it. They did not know of a phone number to call on and utilise its services. A policeman on duty informed that the driver of the ambulance approached him today and told him that he would be at the main gate of the complex and could be summoned if needed.

However, the ambulance is yet to be registered. It was introduced in November last year during the 50-year celebrations of the complex. Even today, the ambulance was seen with a temporary number plate. Bar association president Ravinder Bassi said the registration could not be done "due to some problem".

Bassi said the dispensary and the ambulance were being run by the Bar and they were doing their best. He said, “The medical services are for members; it is not possible to serve everyone, that too at 3 pm”. 

Haphazard parking had kept the way of the ambulance blocked earlier; the move will not only make the ambulance visible and readily available but will also ensure easy exit from the court complex.