A writ petition was filed in the Odisha High Court on Monday seeking quashing of last month’s circular issued by the SCB Medical College and Hospital Superintendent restricting the entry of media representatives in the hospital campus.
HC advocate Nishikanta Mishra filed the writ challenging the hospital diktat and termed it “unconstitutional” and an attempt to suppress the gross unprofessional conduct of the hospital mandarins from public.
It may be mentioned that Hospital Superintendent Dr Shyama Kanungo on June 28 came out with a circular stating that henceforth, the representatives of both electronics and print media shall be allowed to enter into the hospital after obtaining permission from the superintendent.
While people from all walks life have criticised the media restrictions into the Hospital, the local reporters immediately submitted a memorandum to the local Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) demanding to withdraw the controversial circular forthwith.
The State Government has, however, not taken any step in this regard yet even as the hospital has remained out of bound for the media men for over a fortnight now. Similarly, a local Press reporter has also filed an application before the State Human Rights Commission alleging that the hospital superintendent has misused her official power in inflicting the human rights of the journalists.