Hon’ble 1st Division Bench of High Court directs PGI Chandigarh to urgently release funds to the tune of Rs. 3 Lakhs for a poor patient to save his life
The Voice of Chandigarh News:
The Hon’ble First Division Bench High Court of Punjab and Haryana, at Chandigarh, acting upon a Public Interest Petition filed by one Divya Sharma, a student of National Law University, Delhi, who is interning under an NGO Sri Sathya Sai Manav Seva, directed the PGI authorities to urgently provide a sum of Rs. 3 Lakhs to a poor patient Ravindra Kumar aged 31 years, who has undergone Cardiovascular Surgery earlier at PGI.
Petitioner is a student of National Law University Delhi, moved by the depraved condition of an extremely poor and destitute patient, Ravindra Kumar, needing urgent medical attention and funds for his care and treatment, had earlier met the Doctors at PGI Chandigarh. The concerned doctor had certified that Ravindra Kumar – a labourer aged 31 years, needed urgent medical care as he was suffering from heart problems and had been implanted Automated Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator [AICD] several years back. Ravindra had lost his job many years back, due to his adverse heart condition. Meanwhile, the battery of AICD stood depleted and as per PGI’s certificate, the same would cost Rs. 3 Lakhs for replacement and further funds would also be required for his follow up treatment. The Petitioner, who is currently interning under an NGO, approached all possible authorities for helping this poor patient, but as the has been grievously urgent, because of precarious condition of the patient, the Petitioner had to invoke the jurisdiction of the Hon’ble High Court by way of a Public Interest Petition because of emergency and urgency.
Mr. Amar Vivek Aggarwal and Ms. Sanchi Bindra, appearing for the Petitioner law student, relied upon the Judgement of the Hon’ble Apex court in the case of Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity v. State of West Bengal (1996), wherein the Hon’ble court recognized the need for the state to provide adequate medical facilities. It was argued by the counsel that the state’s failure to provide emergency medical services constituted a violation of Article 21. It was asserted that the state’s responsibility included not only the creation of health policies but also ensuring their effective implementation to guarantee that citizens are able to access medical care without hindrance.
The Petitioner also prayed that a core Committee be formed by the Hon’ble Court, where such like poor patients could raise their similar kind of grievances in case of such a dire urgency and need.
Petitioner even impleaded the Red Cross Society, whose Chairman is none other than the Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh, which is having means and resources to help a person like Ravindra Kumar. As such, it was argued that keeping in view the urgency the Hon’ble Court be pleased to direct the authorities to show extra-ordinary emergency and accord priority to the case of treatment of patient Ravindra Kumar and releasing funds to him.
Taking up the Petition, the Hon’ble First Division Bench called upon Satya Pal Jain, Addl Solicitor General of India, and sought his intervention in getting the requisite funds of Rs. 3 Lakhs released to him forthwith. Upon the assurance of Satya Pal Jain, that he would get the needful done today itself for the patient, the Hon’ble court was pleased to fix the hearing of the case for 20-12-2024, so as to ensure that requisite funds are released to the poor patient Ravindra Kumar.
