Lambasting the Mahara-shtra government for its casual approach in addressing the malnourishment issue across the state, the Bombay high court on Wednesday warned of issuance of a contempt notice against the secretary of public health department if concrete steps are not taken within two weeks.
A division bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Amjad Sayed directed the government to deploy gynaecologists, pediatricians, radiologists and anaesthetics at hospitals in tribal areas where there is a dearth for emergency medial care, within two weeks.
The bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Purnima Upadh-yay, seeking proper implementation of schemes introduced by both the Central and the state government to reduce malnourishment in the Melghat area of Mahar-ashtra. “We want action from the government. Concrete steps towards deployment of specialised doctors in these areas should be done within two weeks. For heavens sake, send doctors,” Justice Chandrachud said.
Remarking that it was thoroughly “dissatisfied with inaction” on the part of the state government, Justice Chandrachud said, “The secretaries are obstructing the process of court. These fellows are thick skinned. If action is not taken then we will issue contempt notice against the secretary of the public health department.”
The court was irked when Ms Upadhyay argued that despite directions on earlier hearings to the government to fill up vacant posts in hospitals, till date there are no gynaecologists, pediatricians, radiologists and anaesthetics.
“You (state) take bond money from doctors so that they serve in such areas, then why don’t you deploy them. Why are you protecting the doctors? This is lack of administration will,” the court observed. Posting the matter for hearing after two weeks, the court said it wants a statement from the government on what action it has taken in tackling the dearth of doctors in hospitals in the Melghat area.