SUNITA RANI Vs. UNION OF INDIA (UOI)

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE prayer made in this petition is for quashing the order dated October 22, 2003 (Annexure P -11) passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Chandigarh Bench, Chandigarh (for short the Tribunal), vide which Original Application No. 94 -HR of 2003 filed by petitioner Sunita Rani, who is widow of Vijay Kumar, a Class III employee in the office Garrison Engineer (North), M.E.S., Ambala Cantt (respondent No. 3), for medical reimbursement on account of post heart -surgery treatment she underwent in Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, (for short P.G.I.) has been dismissed and for issuing a direction to the respondents to make payment of the expenses incurred by her in this connection.

(2.) THE petitioner was operated upon for heart surgery in P.G.I. on October 04, 1996. She was reimbursed the medical expenses for the same. It is pleaded that she was also being reimbursed the post surgery medical expenses till her husband was alive. Husband of the petitioner died on July 06, 2001. The petitioner requires regular medicines amounting to Rs. 1,500/ - to Rs. 2,000/ - per month. She submitted bills of her follow -up -treatment to the respondent -department, which were not paid to her on the ground that clarification was being sought from the Headquarters. She per force filed Original Application before the Tribunal, which was dismissed.

(3.) LEARNED Counsel for the petitioner has argued that medicines being regularly consumed by the petitioner after her heart surgery are most essential for her survival and reimbursement of the same cannot be declined merely on the ground that she is getting treatment as an outdoor patient.