Punjab and Haryana High Court: In a PIL filed regarding the dismal condition of large number of vacancies in the cadre of doctors at the Civil Hospital, Malerkotla (‘the Hospital’), the Division Bench of Sheel Nagu, CJ., and H.S. Grewal, J., directed the Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab, to file an additional affidavit regarding vacancy of sanctioned posts and the lack of CT scan and MRI facilities in the Hospital.
The Court on perusal of the affidavit filed by the State showed, said that it showcased a dismal picture of incumbency and vacant positions in the Hospital as only two Medical Officers (‘MOs’) were posted against 39 sanctioned posts. The Court also noted that undisputedly, out of 225 MOs recently recruited under the advertisement issued in August 2024, not even one had been posted at the Hospital.
The Court remarked that it was obvious that the sovereign function of the State of providing free medical aid to the patients was not being discharged by the State in its true sense.
Regarding the deficiencies in the medical infrastructure, the Court noted that as per the affidavit of the Senior Medical Officer of the Hospital, the facilities for CT scans and MRI were not available in the Hospital, and patients who required them were referred to the Civil Hospital, Sangrur. The Court stated that CT scans and MRI were no longer facilities that were available only in big Hospitals but should be available in Civil Hospitals at the District as well as the Sub-Division level.
Noting the aforesaid, the Court directed the Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab, to file an additional affidavit explaining why the said sanctioned posts, which were increased from 10 to 39 Medial Officers, had not been filled up for so many years. The Court also sought explanation on the lack of CT scan and MRI facilities in the Hospital.
Further, noting the gravity of the situation, the Chief Secretary was directed to appear before the Court and explain the defaults made by the State on the next date of hearing, i.e., 04-03-2025.
[Bhisham Kinger v. State of Punjab, CWP PIL No. 259 of 2024, decided on 18-02-2025]
Advocates who appeared in this case :
For the petitioner: Petitioner in person
For the respondent: Anurag Chopra, Addl. Advocate General
