The High Court of Uttarakhand has directed the State Government to develop the historical Bhowali sanatorium into a multi specialty hospital as per the Medical Council of India standards within six months. The State Government has also been directed to make necessary financial provision within a week to provide necessary facilities for the sanatorium patients and start work within two weeks on the repair of the existing building along with work on the multi-specialty hospital. The court also directed that a cardiac unit and geriatric ward be opened within three monthsat the BD Pande hospital in Nainital. The vacant posts of doctors, paramedical staff and other positions should also be filled in three months, the court ordered. Doctors in all the district hospitals will be available 24 hours failing which disciplinary action will be initiated against them. Necessary facilities for requirement treatment along with doctors and staff should be facilitated within six months in all primary health centres and community health centres. Trauma centres should be established for emergency services in every district with 24x7 availability of doctors and paramedical staff. Separate room should be provided for rape victims. Stating that the treatment of accident victims should be started without delay, the court also stated that the health and family welfare ministry should provide special assistance for mountain states to improve health facilities. The High Court division bench of justices Rajiv Sharma and lok Pal Singh issued these directions while hearing on a public interest litigation filed by Nainital resident Deepak Rubali.
The petitioner had stated that the general public was suffering considerably due to inadequate facilities at the BD Pande hospital.
Authorities have failed to prevent drug abuse, says HC
The high court observed that the youth in Uttarakhand are falling prey to substance abuse with the Government and police failing to prevent this. The court said this when the special task force (STF) Senior Superintendent of Police and the Narcotics and Drugs Control Bureau of India, regional director appeared in the court as directed.
The STF SSP informed the court that due to shortage of staff, the force was relying on electronic surveillance. On being asked about the source of drugs being abused in Uttarakhand, the officer informed that these were being smuggled from Nepal, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh-especially Bareily. When the court spoke of catching the ring leaders in the narcotics trade, officials informed that they were operating the business from outside Uttarakhand.
On being asked about how many persons had been caught for drugs-related crimes, the officers stated that the number of such persons is rising consistently.
The help of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Force is being taken to prevent narcotics trade through the border with Nepal. After hearing the matter, the high court division bench of chief justice KM Joseph and justice Sharad Kumar Sharma asked the SSP about the staff and equipment requirement for effective action against drugs smuggling.
It should be mentioned here that petitioner Shweta Masiwal had stated that the authorities had failed to prevent the rising substance abuse among the youth in the State.