File compliance of order failing which Health Secy to appear in person: DB

Contempt in PIL regarding facilities for cancer patients

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 4: In a contempt petition filed by AV Gupta in Public Interest Litigation regarding facilities for cancer patients, a Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice MA Chowdhary today observed that the respondents have failed to show what happened with regard to installation of PET Scan Machinery in other Government Medical Colleges of the UT in terms of judgment dated 17.02.2016.
The DB, while granting last and final opportunity to the respondents for filing compliance to the judgment dated 17.02.2016 by or before the next date of hearing, made it clear that in case of failure the Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Health & Medical Education Department, UT of J&K shall appear in person.
When the contempt petition came-up for hearing, DB observed, “instead of filing compliance, the respondents have filed the status report dated 10.10.2024 in compliance to the previous order passed on 20.08.2024, contending therein that the matter was considered in the department and on such consideration, a need was felt to seek details/report from the Managing Director, Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JK MSCL) regarding installation of PET Scans in the Government Medical Colleges where there is no such facility available”.
“The status report dated 10.10.2024 has been filed by the respondents in the very casual manner; therefore, the same is rejected”, the DB said.