Non-functioning of Sarai for attendants
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 4: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Viklang Chhatra Trust regarding non-functional of Sarai near Government Medical College Jammu, Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Virender Singh and Justice Mohd Yaqoob Mir took serious note of laxity in signing MoU between Indian Red-Cross Society, Jammu Region and Government functionaries.
The DB said that in the event of any further delay in this regard, Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education Department and Divisional Commissioner, who is ex-officio chairman of the Indian Red Cross Society, Jammu region will have to appear in person to make their stand clear before the court.
In the supplementary affidavit filed in pursuance to the order of the court passed on April 30, 2012, Anil Padha, Honorary Secretary Red Cross, who was present in person, submitted that out of total capacity of 160 beds only 72 have been made available to red-cross. He further submitted that it is the Regional Red Cross Society which has furnished the ground, first and second floors of the Sarai by providing beds, mattress, pillows, blankets, bed-sheets etc for the attendants without their being any financial assistance from Government Medical College and Hospital. He further said that even MoU between Government and Red Cross regarding day to day management of Sarai was pending despite the fact that it was inaugurated on September 27, 2010.
Reva Gupta, Administrator Government Medical College, in her affidavit, stated that attendants of the patients are not willing to go to Sarai may be because of the fact that they cannot pay Rs 60 per person, which are charged for the maintenance of Sarai. She admitted that till date the Government has not signed any MoU with Red Cross Society for the purpose of smooth running and maintenance of Sarai.
After hearing Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi assisted by Advocate Ravi Abrol for the Viklang Chhatra Trust whereas Neeru Goswami, Deputy AG for the State besides Anil Padha and Reva Gupta, the Division Bench directed Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education and Divisional Commissioner Jammu to work out all the modalities so as to make attendants’ Sarai fully operational at the earliest.
“Let Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) be signed between two authorities within three weeks from today positively”, the DB said.
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