HC orders immediate inspection of CIMS Bilaspur over emergency preparedness concerns

The order was issued on April 8 by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agarwal. The Court has asked appointed Court Commissioners to assess the current condition of the hospital and submit their report by the next hearing scheduled for May 5.

The directive follows a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the operational status of the hospital.

As per the TOI media news report, the court expressed concern over the hospital's location in a congested area, noting that the narrow access roads and heavy traffic pose serious risks. The bench observed that haphazard parking of vehicles near the hospital's boundary wall and main gate could obstruct essential services, such as ambulances and fire tenders, during emergencies.

Additionally, district officials, including the Collector, Municipal Commissioner, and Superintendent of Police, have been directed to ensure that the area surrounding the CIMS premises remains free from encroachments and unauthorised parking, so as to prevent any obstruction to the movement of emergency vehicles.

Meanwhile, during the hearing, the court also reviewed the status of the procurement of medical equipment for CIMS, the detailed particulars of which were provided in an affidavit filed by the MD of the Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation (CGMSC) on April 7.

According to the affidavit, out of the 13 categories of medical equipment that were prioritised, equipment belonging to 10 categories has already been provided to the hospital as of April 6, 2026. For nine categories, including temporary pacemakers, fibre-optic bronchoscopes, and ultrasound machines, the bidding processes are currently in the technical evaluation stage.