BIJAN ROY Vs. STATE OF TRIPURA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an application under Art. 226 of Constitution of India praying for a direction to the respondents for payment of medical bill of Rs. 5,930.00and Rs. 6,040.00 being the travelling expenses for the medical treatment of the wife of the petitioner outside the State as referred by the Medical Board of the State Government.

(2.) I have heard Mr. C.S. Sinha, learned counsel, appearing for the petitioner as well as Ms. A.S. Lodh, learned Additional GA, representing the State-respondents.

(3.) The petitioner was working in the Printing & Stationery Department of the State Government since Nov., 1979. He was a Group-B Gazetted employee of the Government. In the Feb., 1999, the petitioners wife fell seriously ill. She was admitted in GB. Hospital for medical treatment. Considering the seriousness of her ailment, the Medical Board was constituted by the Director of Health Service and accordingly, the medical board after due consideration of the seriousness of the ailment of the petitioners wife referred the wife of the petitioner to SSKM/any Government Hospital in Calcutta for better treatment. The Board also allowed an escort to accompany the patient to the place of treatment. Accordingly, the petitioner took his wife to Calcutta S.S.K.M Hospital, for treatment, as per the direction of the Medical Board. The petitioner being a Group-B Gazetted employee working in the Government is entitled to get benefit of reimbursement of medical expenses and accordingly, he submitted medical bills including the charges of travelling of the patient and the escort, as advised by the Medical Board.