HC orders Govt to post doctors at taluk hospitals

The court was hearing a public interest litigation by Aravind Koppad and others, residents of Basarkod village in Muddebihal taluk of Bijapur district, seeking hospital staff and doctors for the hospital in the taluk. A division bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice A S Pachhapure, directed the State to put in place a proper system by February 28, 2011 and implement the same by April 1, 2011.

The bench also granted liberty to the department of health and family welfare to withdraw the doctors deputed to other departments to meet the requirement of doctors in taluk hospitals.

Earlier during the hearing, the bench lashed out at the Government for not furnishing the details sought by it. “We know doctors cannot come by magic. But you are committing a fraud against the society. Who asked you to upgrade the hospital to 100 beds from 50 beds?”

The bench directed the director, department of health, to appear before the court. But when the Government counsel submitted that the director was in a meeting with the Chief Minister, the bench said, “Whenever you call these officials, they are in a meeting with the Chief Minister. Does the Chief Minister conduct only meetings?”

Ramana Reddy, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Planning, appeared before the court. He too faced the wrath of the bench, which wanted to know the reason for upgrading the hospital while it was facing a staff shortage.

“Can you imagine a hospital without doctors? How many hospitals in the state face shortage of doctors?,” the bench asked the Principal Secretary.