Delhi HC Threatens Contempt of Court In Non-Recruitment at Indira Gandhi Hospital

New Delhi: Following Delhi government's failure to make expeditious appointments at the Indira Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital in Dwarka as per the previous direction of the Delhi High court, the latter warned the officials of the Administrative Reforms Department of the Delhi government that they would initiate contempt proceedings against them. 

The observation was made by a two-judge bench of acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla, where they said that there is a prima facie reason to proceed with contempt proceedings against the defaulting officers, as per a media report in the Live Law. The court gave the concerned officers another deadline within the next two weeks to comply with the order dated originally at February 1, 2022, and file a status report subsequently.  

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Initially, the Delhi government had made a requisition for 3,059 posts but only 1,204 posts were approved. Following that, a fresh proposal was submitted for approval for additional 1855 posts, but the same was rejected by the Administrative Reforms Department. 

The Delhi high court had instructed the department during the February 1 order, to consider the proposal for the creation of additional posts, to ensure full staffing in the super specialty hospital so that it can function properly. 

The court, however, was informed yesterday that they haven't taken any decision so far, and the emergency services have not been made operational in the hospital due to the absence of medical staff. The closest facilities for emergency services in a government hospital are in the range of 20 km. 

The bench observed, "This position is worrisome and can't be countenanced." The court directed the proposal to be examined and be placed before the Lieutenant Governor. The court instructed the Delhi government to give names and designations of the officers in the AR Department who were given the duty to comply with the orders, adding them to disclose the steps taken to operationalize the emergency services in the hospital. 

The court said, "In case of non-compliance of our orders dated 1 February 2022 by the next date, Principal Secretary (AR Department) shall remain present in the Court." 

Earlier, the court had ordered the Principal Secretary of Health of the Delhi Government to personally monitor the progress of the project on a weekly basis, asking it to appropriate disciplinary action for those guilty of any lapse or negligence, reports the Live Law. 

It asked the government to give it a timeline as to when the facility will be functional, which the government would bind itself to, and non-adherence to which would give rise to consequences.

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