he Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi government to complete the construction of three of its upcoming hospitals within the ongoing financial year.

The court, in an order passed on October 15, asked authorities to forthwith provide necessary financial sanctions for finishing the three hospitals -- that are 96 per cent ready-- as well as for the recruitment of staff there.

Observing that not completing the projects in a timely manner might result in wasting the expenditure already incurred, the court also asked the Delhi government about its proposal to complete the other ‘brown field' and 'green field' hospital projects that are in the range of 74-87 per cent completion.

"We direct GNCTD to ensure that Guru Gobind Singh Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital and Acharya Shree Bhikshu Govt. Hospital are completed within the current financial year and the posts for the aforementioned hospitals are created within the next 15 days," a bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet P S Arora said

"The Finance Department of GNCTD will ensure that all necessary financial sanctions for giving effect to the aforesaid directions as regards posts and completion of construction are issued, without any delay. GNCTD will ensure that steps for appointments to these sanctioned posts are initiated and made within this financial year," it said.

 The court passed the order while dealing with a suo motu case it initiated in 2017 over the alleged lack of critical care in government hospitals here.

In a status report filed in the case earlier, the Delhi government has said it was undertaking the construction of 11 'green field' and 13 'brown field' hospitals in the national capital which would be run under different models, such as either as a government or private hospital or in a PPP mode.

In the order, the court noted that while an affidavit by the Delhi government claimed that the current budget allocation was not adequate for completing the projects, the Health Minister's counsel assured that he was willing to take steps for raising and allocating funds.