SHRI PANNALAL PAUL Vs. THE STATE OF TRIPURA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND THE DIRECTOR, LAND RECORDS AND SETTLEMENT, GOVERNMENT OF TRIPURA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE instant writ petition is filed by the petitioner, Sri Pannalal Paul, an Officer -in -charge of Map Printing in the Directorate of the Land Records and Settlement, Government of Tripura, for directing the respondents to reimburse his medical claims and T.A. bills towards his treatment outside the State along with interest.

(2.) HEARD Mr. A. Sengupta, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner as well as Mr. D.C. Nath, learned State counsel for the State -respondents.

(3.) THE State -respondents by filing counter affidavit stated that the petitioner went to Apollo Hospital, Chennai and conducted coronary artery Bypass Surgery + Left Multiple Pleural Biopsies without taking referral certificate from the Standing Medical Board, which is mandatory. It is also stated that there was enough time to contact with the Medical Authority to refer him outside the State during his stay at Agartala from 03.02.2008 to 05.02.2008, but the petitioner did not avail that scope and proceeded outside the State on 06.02.2008 only as per advice of Dr. Bijoy Paul, M.D. (Medicine). It is further stated that when referred by the Standing Medical Board a Group -'A' and 'B' officials are eligible to get medical reimbursement for treatment/investigations undertaken outside the State at the rate of the referral hospital. Since the petitioner was not referred by the Standing Medical Board, medical reimbursement and travelling expenses are not admissible to the petitioner as per provision of G.O. 8 dated 25.09.2004 of the Health & Family Welfare Department, Govt. of Tripura.