New Delhi: The Delhi High Court, while observing that not completing the projects in a timely manner might result in wasting the expenditure already incurred, directed the Delhi government to complete the construction of three of its upcoming hospitals, which are 96 per cent ready, within the ongoing financial year.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora also directed the authorities concerned to forthwith provide necessary financial sanctions for finishing the said three hospitals as well as for the recruitment of staff there.
High Court’s direction came on a suo motu case initiated by it in 2017
The court’s direction came on a suo motu case initiated by it in 2017 over the alleged lack of critical care in government hospitals in the national capital.
“We direct GNCTD to ensure that Guru Gobind Singh Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital and Acharya Shree Bhikshu Govt. Hospital are completed within the current financial year and the posts for the aforementioned hospitals are created within the next 15 days,” the High Court said.
“The Finance Department of GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi) will ensure that all necessary financial sanctions for giving effect to the aforesaid directions as regards posts and completion of construction are issued, without any delay. GNCTD will ensure that steps for appointments to these sanctioned posts are initiated and made within this financial year,” the bench added, news agency PTI reported.
The Delhi government had earlier, in a status report filed in the case, told the High Court that it was undertaking the construction of 11 ‘green field’ and 13 ‘brown field’ hospitals in the city which would be run under different models.
High Court also directed Delhi government to complete ‘brown field’ and ‘green field’ hospital projects
The bench directed the Delhi government to complete the ‘brown field’ and ‘green field’ hospital projects that are in the range of 74-87 per cent completion.
“GNCTD is directed to place on record, before the next date of hearing a status report with respect to the steps taken for completing the brown field hospital projects enlisted at Sr. Nos. 5, 6, 9 and 13 as well as green field hospital projects,” the High Court said.
Not completing these projects within a time bound manner may result in wastefulness of amounts of public exchequer already incurred: HC
The court noted that while an affidavit filed by the Delhi government claimed that the current budget allocation was not adequate for completing the projects, the counsel for the Health Minister assured that he was willing to take steps for raising and allocating funds.
“This court is of the opinion that not completing these projects within a time bound manner may result in wastefulness of the amounts of the public exchequer already incurred on these projects,” the High Court observed.
