Issuing notice on the issue of giving land for Mohalla Clinics, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the central and state governments to explore the possibility of setting up such clinics in every part of the national capital.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar issued the notice to the cental and state governments as well as civic and land-owing agencies and asked them to file their response over grant of land for the Mohalla Clinics.
The bench asked them to examine the sites suggested by the Delhi government for establishing these clinics and file within two weeks feasibility reports on land situated within their respective jurisdictions.
Posting the matter to October 30, the court warned of strict action against the authorities concerned if they failed to comply with the court direction.
The Delhi government said several free sites in Delhi have been identified for these clinics, for which a proposal for neighbourhood health facility scheme has been approved.
The objective was to make available medical facilities to city’s residents at every two kilometers, the Delhi government said.
The court was hearing a plea by NGO ‘Justice for All’ through lawyer Khagesh Jha to seek directions to the authorities to allot adequate number of plots to set up the Mohalla Clinics along with permission to raise appropriate temporary structures thereon.
Lt Governor Anil Baijal has approved the Mohalla Clinics scheme but multiplicity of agencies and differences in opinion among them had led to slow pace of implementation, Jha said.
The plea also sought court directions to the Delhi Health Secretary to depute doctors and other staff and provide proper facilities for the smooth running of Mohalla Clinics.
