Explore possibility of Mohalla Clinics all over Delhi: HC

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court asked the Centre, AAP government and civic bodies here to explore the possibility of setting up Mohalla Clinics in all parts of the city to provide adequate health facility to the people.

A bench of Acting chief justice Gita Mittal and justice C Hari Shankar also directed the authorities including the land owning agencies to examine the sites suggested by the Delhi government for establishing these facilities.

It issued notice and directed the government and other agencies to file feasibility reports with regard to the land falling in their jurisdiction within two weeks.

The bench warned of strict action against the authorities in case they failed to comply with the direction and file the status reports before the next date hearing on October 30.

Delhi government counsel Sanjoy Ghosh said that the proposal for neighbourhood health facility scheme has been approved by the competent authority. He submitted that the department has identified several free sites in the city.

The counsel also submitted that their endeavour is to set up the Mohalla Clinics, that offer essential health services, at every two kilometres in the city.

The health project had been delayed after complaints of irregularities were received by the Delhi Lt. Governor(LG) Anil Baijal, leading to a probe by the Vigilance Department. The lack of land for the project had also held it up.

The court was hearing NGO Justice for All's plea for direction to the authorities to allot an adequate number of plots for construction of these clinics with permission to raise the appropriate temporary structures to run them.