Srinagar, May 28: The High Court Monday directed the Chief Secretary to file affidavit indicating the steps taken by the government to arrest alarming infant mortality reported by the media at GB Pant hospital.
The court asked the Senior Additional Advocate General, A M Magray to file an affidavit on behalf of the government showing what steps have been taken by the government to prevent the infant deaths in the hospital.
A division bench comprising justices Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Hasnain Massodi passed the directions on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by social activists, Dr Rouf Mohidin Malik and Tanveer Khan, seeking directions for an inquiry into the recent infant deaths and other issues relating to healthcare in GB Pant hospital.
Magray, representing the Health and Medical Education department accepted the notice in the court on behalf of the respondents.
The court also directed Magray to file affidavit from the Principal Secretary to Government Health and Medical Education department by or before June 1, 2012 indicating the total deaths that have occurred in GB Pant hospital since Jan 1, 2012.
“The affidavit should indicate the total sanctioned strength of the doctors in the hospital rank-wise and the number of doctors who have remained in place in the hospital since January 2012,” the court held.
The court also asked for details about the laboratory facility available in the hospital and the sanctioned strength of trained staff meant for it, directing that if there is any shortfall, it should be indicated explicitly.
Seeking details about the nursing staff in the hospital, the court directed the respondents to indicate total sanctioned strength of nursing staff and the number of nurses posted in the hospital.
The court asked the Principal Secretary to provide details about total number of ventilators available in the hospital and the strength of trained staff handling the ventilators. The court also sought details of the available staff operating the ventilators apart from training imparted to the staff to handle the equipments.
“The Principal Secretary shall also give details of the shortfalls which the government thinks need to be attended urgently to mitigate the present healthcare situation in the hospital” the court ordered.
The court directed the Registry to communicate its order through fax to A M Magray and Principal Secretary to Government Health and Medical Education Department forthwith for information and compliance.
The petitioner was represented by Advocates Faisal Qadri and M Ashraf Wani.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 May 2012 00:00:00 IST