Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: In a PIL seeking direction to improve the existing infrastructural facilities of Government Medical College and associated Hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir, Division Bench of J&K High Court, Jammu Wing today imposed cost to the respondent for not filing counter affidavit.
The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal, after hearing petitioner Sumit Nayyar- a practicing Lawyer, in person and AAG Raman Sharma for the Health Department, took serious note of not filing counter affidavit by the respondent.
DB observed that given the importance of the public interest raised in this petition, one final opportunity is granted to the respondents to file their counter affidavit within four weeks subject to payment of cost of Rs 5,000 with the Advocate’s Welfare Fund.
DB further directed that in case this order is not complied with, the Secretary, Department of Health & Medical Education, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will remain personally present in court on the next date of hearing.
In the PIL, petitioner has sought direction to respondents to increase the bed-strength in the Government Medical College, Jammu and also SMGS Hospital, Shalamar Road, Jammu commensurate to the inflow of patients in the said hospital and also replace all the totally damaged existing toilet seats with English seats in the washrooms/bathrooms of GMC Hospitals Jammu and SMGS Hospital Shalamar Road, Jammu so that the female patients admitted for delivery of their babies do not face any kind inconvenience while using toilets in the SMGS Hospital, Jammu.
In the PIL it has also been submitted that there are due shortage of medicines in the emergencies drugs like Dopamine, paracetamol etc. In the emergency, the patients purchase the basic medicines or injections from the market and the hospital authorities have not taken any step for providing the basic medicines to the patients.
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