Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Oct 14: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Sugandha Sawhney (a Law student) seeking directions to the Chief Secretary J&K and Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education to issue Policy for imposing blanket ban on private practice by Government doctors in J&K, a Division Bench of J&K High Court comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and First Puisne Judge Justice Rajesh Bindal (through video conferencing) took cognizance of the PIL filed through Advocate Ajay Gandotra. After hearing Sugandha, who appeared in person (through video conferencing), the DB issued notices to the CS as well as FC Health and Medical Education for filing the status report in the matter.
Deputy Advocate General Arshad Majid Malik accepted the notices and sought time to file a status report as per the directions of the Division Bench.
The Division Bench further observed that by order dated September, 1, 2020 passed in CM No.3122/2020 in WP(C) PIL No.4/2020 titled ‘Azra Ismail V/s Union of India & Ors’ (of Srinagar Wing), the Court had directed the Government of J&K to look into the issues raised by the applicant. The Division Bench further directed the Registry to list this petition alongwith WP(C) PIL No.4/2020 on November 6.
In the PIL it is alleged that the Government Doctors who are allowed private practice are violating the statutory instructions by charging exorbitant fee and are not providing the receipt of fee to the patients. Instead, they are maintaining the record of the patients on their private diaries which are usually maintained by their employees.
It was further alleged that Government Doctors are usually found in their private chambers practicing during duty hours and even on the day of admission of patients or days of attending emergencies.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
