DIVYA SHARMA v. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH

CWP-PIL-279-2024 Date of decision : 17.01.2025 Divya Sharma …….Petitioner Versus

Present: Ms. Sanchi Bindra, Advocate, for Mr. Amar Vivek Aggarwal, for the petitioner. Mr. Satya Pal Jain, Addl. Solicitor General of India, with Mr. Rajiv Sharma, Senior Panel Counsel, UOI, for respondents No.1 and 2.

Mr. Maheshinder Singh Sidhu, Addl. Standing Counsel, and Mr. Karan Vir Singh, Junior Panel Counsel, UT Chandigarh, for respondents No.3 to 5.

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SHEEL NAGU, CHIEF JUSTICE ( Oral )

1. In continuation of the earlier orders passed by this Court on 19.12.2024 and 20.12.2024, it has been informed by learned counsel for the petitioner that battery of Automated Implantable Cardiverter Defibrillator (AICD) was purchased from the Poor Patient Welfare Fund (PPWF for brevity), PGIMER, Chandigarh, and implanted in the heart of patient - Ravinder Kumar, on 25.12.2024.

2. Short reply on behalf of respondents No.1 and 2 filed by way of affidavit of the Medical Superintendent, PGIMER, Chandigarh, is taken on record. It contains the procedure to be followed for getting assistance through PPWF and also the grievance redressals. In the short reply, details of utilization data of PPWF, have been given as follows :-

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3. It appears that a number of patients, because of their ignorance and huge footfall at PGIMER, Chandigarh, are unable to avail the benefit of the PPWF.

4. This Court, therefore, directs the Medical Superintendent, PGIMER, Chandigarh, to have prominent sign boards set up at conspicuous places in all the buildings and entire campus of PGIMER, Chandigarh, including the lifts, passages, roads, reception counter, the OPDs etc., so that the poor patients can avail the funds under PPWF.

5. Let compliance report, by making necessary changes in the procedure for availing benefit of the PPWF, be filed by the Medical Superintendent, PGIMER, Chandigarh, within a period of four weeks.

6. For the time being, the petition stands disposed of with a direction to the Registry that in case, compliance report by the Medical Superintendent, PGIMER, Chandigarh, is not filed within the aforesaid period, it be put up as PUD for compliance.

( SHEEL NAGU )

CHIEF JUSTICE

( SUDHIR SINGH )

JUDGE

January 17, 2025 narotam

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