HC serves contempt notice on Health Director
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 25 2013:
The Manipur High Court has served a contempt notice on the Health Director for defying its instruction to probe into a complaint about employing Government doctors in private hospitals.
An order issued by the Manipur High Court Chief Justice LK Mohapatra on November 11 asked Health Director Dr A Bijoy if there was any reason why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him under the Contempt of Courts Act 1971.It also asked the Director to file a response within two weeks.
The Chief Justice issued the order after hearing the contempt petition filed by one Thangjam (O) Bilabati (65) of Uripok Tourangbam Leikai.
Earlier, a ruling issued by Chief Justice AM Sapre on August 21 this year directed the Health Director to investigate into the complaint about employment of Government doctors in private hospitals.
But the Director did not comply with the Court ruling subsequent upon which the contempt petition was filed.
The petitioner said that her son Th Dayananda, then 29 years old was inserted steel plate following an accident in January 2012.To remove the steel plate, Dayananda underwent a surgical operation at Catholic Medical Centre, Koirengei on November 24 the same year.
As Dayananda's heath condition deteriorated, he was shifted to RIMS at the request of his family but he succumbed to his illness on November 30, 2012 at RIMS.
According to the death certificate given by RIMS, the cause of death was cerebral hipoxia.
Driven by a strong suspicion on the manner of treatment at RIMS, the petitioner sent a legal notice to the CMC Medical Superintendent on January 9, 2013 seeking details of doctors who attended to her son and medicines prescribed by them.
In response, it was learnt that one anaesthetist Dr Wahengbam Ibochouba of Wahengbam Leikai administered anaesthesia on Dayananda before undergoing operation.
On enquiry, it was learnt that Dr Ibochouba was serving as Medical Officer at Thoubal District Hospital following which a complaint was submitted to the Principal Secretary (Health).
Subsequent upon the complaint, Dr Ibochouba's non practising allowance for the month October, November and December 2012 was cancelled.
According to the Manipur Nursing Homes and Clinics Resgitration Act 1992, registration of private hospitals/clinics which take in Government doctors and nurses as their staff can be cancelled.
Citing the same act, a complaint was filed with the Health Director on May 21 this year seeking cancellation of CMC Hospital's registration.
But the Health Director refrained from taking any action.
Later, a petition was filed in the High Court.