Ranchi: The Jharkhand High Court has imposed Rs 10,000 as fine on Rajendra Institute of Medical Science for delaying its reply in a PIL on the plight of the health institute. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar Mishra passed the order observing that the health institution is repeatedly delaying its reply causing hindrances in hearing in a matter of public interest.
Earlier on February 23 the high court sought information from the state government regarding the action taken in the matter of 28 deaths due to lack of treatment during the strike of junior doctors and nurses in June 2018 in Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS). The bench had given three-week time to file an affidavit in the matter.
The order came after advocate Mukhtar Khan appearing on behalf of the petitioner submitted that on June 1, 2018, a patient died in RIMS due to wrong treatment. Following that, the deceased’s relatives protested. This caused a conflict between the junior doctors and the deceased’s relatives. As a result, junior doctors and nurses at RIMS went on strike on June 2, 2018.
RIMS’s entire medical system, advocate Khan submitted, had crumbled during the strike. Over 35 patients’ operations were postponed as a result of this. More than 600 patients had left RIMS without being treated. In addition, 28 individuals died without receiving care.
An FIR was filed in Kotwali police station against the culpable junior physicians and nurses, but no action was taken other than giving the junior doctors and nurses’ notice