JIBESH RANJAN DATTA Vs. STATE OF TRIPURA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. N. Majumder, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner as well as Mr. D. Bhattacharjee, learned G.A., assisted by Mr. K. De, learned Addl. G.A. appearing for the respondents.

(2.) By way of filing the present writ petition, the petitioner has raised his grievance against the rejection of his application for reimbursement of medical bills by the State Finance Department and the Treasury Officer, respondents No.1 and 5 respectively here-in.

(3.) The petitioner is a retired Judicial Officer. In the year 2019, he went on a family tour and during travelling, he fell seriously ill and consulted with the Doctor and on an emergent situation he was compelled to be treated at the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad on 18.02.2019 having patient registration No.1900010115. The petitioner also received further treatment at Kolkata on 25.03.2019, 26.03,2019, 18.11.2019, 13.11.2019, 03.12.2019 and 05.01.2020. Similarly, the wife of the petitioner also had suddenly fallen ill in Kolkata and got treated in the Private Consulting Room of Prasida Ayurvedic Clinic, Kolkata on 03.12.2019 and 05.01.2019. Since both the petitioner and his wife were on tour outside the State of Tripura and suddenly had suffered illness, they could not obtain referral certificate from the State Standing Medical Board. However, after returning to State, the petitioner submitted bills for reimbursement to the learned District and Sessions Judge, West Tripura Agartala. The said bills were forwarded to the Secretary of the Law Department, Government of Tripura by District and Sessions Judge under communications dated 05.12.2019 and 24.02.2020 (Annexure-3 and 4 to the writ petition). It is pertinent to mention that 3(three) numbers of medical reimbursement bills were sent to the office of the respondent No.5, i.e. the Treasury Officer by the learned District and Sessions Judge, West Tripura Agartala vide communication dated 05.12.2019, but the respondent No.5 raised objection due to non-furnishing of referral certificate. On receipt of the communication for reimbursement of medical bills submitted by the petitioner, the Secretary, Law Department forwarded the same to the Finance Department, Government of Tripura, respondent No.1. However, the Law Department under communication dated 13.07.2020 addressed to the District and Sessions Judge informed him that three numbers of medical reimbursement bills of the petitioner were returned as per communication dated 09.07.2020 issued by the Finance Department with a copy to the petitioner. Again, the Law Department made communication on 02.09.2020 and informed the District and Sessions Judge, West Tripura Agartala that 5(five) numbers of medical reimbursement bills of the petitioner were returned by the Finance Department vide memorandum dated 14.11.2017 (Annuxure-6 to the writ petition). Finally, the petitioner was informed by respondent No.4, Civil Judge (Senior Division) vide his communication dated 08.10.2020 that the Finance Department, Government of Tripura had regretted the medical bills of the petitioner, which compelled the petitioner to approach this Court for redress.