Poll code not to hit Sector 48 hospital: High Court

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 11

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today made it clear that the election code would not come in the way of providing equipment and staff in the newly established 100-bedded hospital in Sector 48.

As the case on making healthcare services in Chandigarh more robust came up for hearing, Justice Rajan Gupta’s Bench was told that the hospital had been inaugurated, but the equipment and staff were yet to be provided by the authorities concerned.

Justice Gupta’s Bench was also told that a requisition had been sent to the Government of India for providing the staff. Appearing before the Bench, counsel for the Union of India submitted that he would seek instructions from the Secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, before apprising the court of the progress, if any.

“Needless to observe that the judicial precedent in respect of the implementation of the orders, despite the election code would be taken into consideration,” Justice Gupta asserted. Before parting with the order, Justice Gupta also took note of the fact that an intensive care unit at Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, too, was fully functional. The case will now come up for further hearing in April first week.

Justice Gupta’s Bench was earlier told that a high dependency unit was functioning at the Sector 16 hospital. The Bench was also told that a shortage of doctors was being felt with the augmentation in medical facilities, following which requests had been sent to the states of Punjab and Haryana for sending doctors on deputation. However, they were yet to receive a response. 

The Administration, on a previous date of hearing, had told Justice Gupta’s Bench that major efforts were on to further enhance healthcare facilities in the city. It told the High Court that two hospitals with a total capacity of 180 beds and a sports injury centre were coming up in the city.

The Bench was told that details of 248 persons, including 78 doctors, for maintaining round-the-clock services had already been sent to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the Sector 48 hospital.  In his affidavit, the UT Secretary, Health, submitted that the Government of India had been requested to convey the approval for creation of posts at the Sector 48 Civil Hospital in the interests of patients and the general public.  Referring to the 80-bedded hospital at Maloya village, the Secretary submitted that the approval for dismantling the existing building was being taken by the Engineering Department and the construction work was likely to be completed by December 2020. The developments took place more than a year after the HC took cognisance of medical services in the region.

What bench was told

As the case on making healthcare services more robust came up for hearing, Justice Rajan Gupta’s Bench was told that the hospital had been inaugurated, but the equipment and staff were yet to be provided by the authorities.