IGGMC encroachment: Court reprimands state authorities

Nagpur: The High Court reprimanded the PWD Authorities for not having removed the encroachments from Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMC), here on Monday.

A division bench headed by Justice Bhushan Gavai had asked the authorities to remove encroachments from the area on January 13, last year.

Amicus curiae, Anup Gilda told the court that nothing had changed at the IGGMC since the court orders were issued last year. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), he informed, had failed to carry out court directives.

A division bench of Justices Swapna Joshi and Bhushan Dharmadhikari have asked the NMC and PWD to let the court know by when they plan to remove the illegal structures on the college's premises and also explain the reasons that have caused the delay.

The court was responding to a contempt petition (CP No 281/2017) in a writ petition (No 3427/2000) filed by CH Sharma and others regarding the lack of facilities in government medical colleges and hospitals (GMCH) across the state of Vidarbha.

Earlier, the government pleader had revealed that the government had released funds required for purchasing equipment for Super Specialty Hospital (SSH) and would soon be floating tenders. An officer on special duty (OSD), P Patil, was also appointed on SSH. It was further informed that the new operation theatre at IGGMC was almost ready with only power connection left to be operational zed.

The court in its last hearing had asked the government why it should not move for contempt against it, for not having appointed a 'Dean' for the college, despite having taken an undertaking for the same.

The understaffed IGGMC's 250-bed hospital, which is functional due to the court's intervention, presently, needs to appoint 157 staff. It has been observed that despite repeated reminders only 80 recruitments have been made, on a contractual basis. The amicus revealed that the Council may disapprove recognition for want of adequate staff.

He also drew the court attention to the absence of air conditioning in pre and post-operational theatres and equipment/appliances not having been purchased for SSH despite funds having been sanctioned in October, reports TOI.