R JANAKIRAMAN Vs. GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU; DISTRICT COLLECTOR; DEAN-IN-CHARGE; DIRECTORATE OF MEDICAL AND RURAL HEALTH SERVICES

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present Public Interest Litigation arose out of a concern expressed by the petitioner on account of lack of adequate medical facilities for infants, as in a month between 14.11.2014 and 18.11.2014, six infants died at Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital. Another five infants are stated to have been kept in incubators, who also passed away. As an illustration, in Salem Government Hospital, eight babies are stated to have passed away in a week. These aspects received wide publicity in papers, but the official stand was that the babies were under-weight and the mothers were at a very young age.

(2.) We had called upon the petitioner to submit better particulars in support of the petition and an additional affidavit was filed. The petitioner has sought to make out a case of lack of filling up of vacancies to the post of Gynaecologist, Paediatricians and other doctors to ensure basic facilities, as also necessary equipment, not only in the Dharmapuri Government hospital, but in all hospitals and primary health centres of the State. The petitioner has also obtained certain information under the Right to Information Act. It is the case of the petitioner that out of 37 hospitals, only 17 sent their reply giving the vacancy position.

(3.) The respondents, in the initial counter-affidavit, largely dealt with only the facilities available in Dharmapuri District to state that the vacancy position is as under: