DEEPAK RUWALI Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND & OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present petition was filed in the year 2009, highlighting therein shortage of doctors including paramedical staff in three Government Hospitals situated at Nainital i.e. B.D. Pandey (Male) District Hospital, B.D. Pandey (Female) District Hospital and G.B. Pant Hospital previously known as Ramsay Hospital. It is also highlighting in the petition that these hospitals lack even minimum equipment. The space is also inadequate. The B.D. Pandey (Male/Female) Hospitals have 119 beds.

(2.) The Court took cognizance of the matter and passed the order on 09.01.2009 directing the respondents to file the reply about the sanctioned strength of doctors in different specialities in the hospitals in Nainital town and as to whether all the specialities have been taken care of or not, if not, why?

(3.) The compliance affidavit was filed by the Principal Secretary, Medical, Health and Family Welfare, to the State of Uttarakhand, pursuant to the order dated 09.01.2009. According to the counter affidavit, there was only one post of General Surgeon in B.D. Pandey (Male) District Hospital. Dr. N.S. Bhatt was posted as General Surgeon. In addition to this, another doctor namely Dr. Parmath Joshi was posted in the B.D. Pandey Hospital. He was on long leave. No post of Surgeon was sanctioned in G.B. Pant Hospital, Nainital. One Dr. D.C. Awasthi was appointed on contractual basis. The basic facilities were being provided to the patients by its specialist doctors and in cases where further specialized treatment was required for a patient, the patients were referred to Higher Centres at Haldwani. The total strength of doctors in Uttarakhand State was 1,922 against which only 947 doctors were working as on the date of filing the affidavit i.e. on 26.03.2009.