Himachal High Court seeks data on hospital lifts

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the Secretary (Health) to submit a detailed affidavit outlining the number of multi-storied public hospitals in the state and confirming whether each facility has designated, fully functional lifts for patients and visitors.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj issued the order while hearing a public interest litigation that alleged discriminatory lift access in a government hospital, where one lift was reportedly reserved exclusively for doctors and staff, while the lift meant for the general public remained non-functional.

The court observed that the issue directly affects elderly individuals, patients with restricted mobility and their attendants, who face considerable difficulty navigating multi-storied hospitals without proper lift services. The matter reached the court through a representation highlighting the severe inconvenience caused by non-operational lifts, particularly to senior citizens and those requiring mobility support.

Treating the representation as a PIL, the court sought a comprehensive response from the health authorities. It has now directed the Secretary (Health) to file the affidavit before the next hearing, scheduled for December 29.