Jalandhar, June 6: Taking cognisance of alleged negligence towards their duty, the Permanent Lok Adalat (PLA) in Kapurthala on Wednesday slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 each on Health Minister Brahm Mohindra; Principal Secretary, Health, Satish Chandra; Director, Health Services, Dr Jaspal Kaur; and Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Mohhamad Tayyab for not appearing in the court despite repeated summons issued to them in the last six months.
The minister and officials were summoned in a case filed by Suket Gupta, president, Human Rights Press Club, alleging harassment of patients and doctors due to lack of infrastructure at Civil Hospital, Kapurthala.
Taking cognisance of concerns raised by the medical fraternity in Kapurthala, PLA chairperson Manju Rana had, on November 3 last year, issued summons to the minister and officers, besides Kapurthala Civil Surgeon Dr HS Kahlon.
Following this, Dr Bhalla appeared in the court on behalf of the government and the minister. He had assured the court of speedy recruitment of specialists in the hospital under the National Health Mission (NHM). He also gave an undertaking to fill vacant posts of staff nurse.
Dr Bhalla had also promised that Jan Aushadi Kendra would be opened. Dr Rajiv Prashar, president PCMS specialists, Civil Hospital, Kapurthala, in his undertaking to the court, had claimed that only 21 doctors were working against the sanctioned posts of 33 and there was no gynaecologist and radiologist in the hospital. Mohindra said: “I am not aware of any such summons.”
Source Tribune India
