Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 21: Division Bench of High Court comprising Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Sanjay Dhar has disposed of the PIL seeking improvement in the infrastructural facilities of Government Medical Colleges and Associated Hospitals.
“It would be appropriate to allow the Government and the Directorate of Health Services to have a free hand to undertake all the activities and to improve upon the medical and health services in the Union Territory including in the remote areas”, the DB said.
When the PIL came-up for hearing, DB observed, “the petitioner claims that he is a public spirited person who is keen in projecting the grievances of the society and the citizens. He is genuinely concerned with the public issues”, adding “the petitioner has not disclosed his credentials as to how he can be recognized as a public spirited person. He has not given details as to the work he is doing; whether he is an income tax assessee or not; and as to what public work he has done in the past”.
“In the absence of such credentials of the petitioner, it is very difficult for the court to allow everyone to raise issues in public interest”, the DB said, adding “the petitioner by means of this writ petition has shown concern regarding the infrastructure facilities available in the Government Medical Colleges and Associated Hospitals in Jammu & Kashmir. He is seeking direction for release of adequate funds for improving the existing conditions of the Government Hospitals in Jammu & Kashmir especially in Government Medical College, Jammu, as also SMGS Hospital and for the repairs and up-gradation of the washrooms and toilets in those hospitals”.
The respondents have filed response to the petition and stated that in addition to the Government Medical College and Associated Hospitals, the Government has established five new Medical Colleges, one each in Doda, Rajouri, Kathua, Baramulla and Anantnag in order to provide better modernized health care facilities to the public at large.
Two more medical colleges have been sanctioned for Udhampur and Handwara. In addition to the these five Medical Colleges, All India Institute of Medical Sciences is being set up at Samba. The establishment of the new Medical Colleges and the Medical Institute would adequately meet the medical requirements of the Union Territory, the DB observed.
DB further observed, “in view of the nature of work as stated by the respondents which is being carried out and the extension of medical facilities in the Union Territory, we are of the opinion that it would be appropriate to allow the Government and the Directorate of Health Services to have a free hand to undertake all the activities and to improve upon the medical and health services in the Union Territory including in the remote areas”.
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