The Chhattisgarh High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of a news report highlighting the shutdown of oxygen plants, which were established at a significant cost during the COVID-19 pandemic at the District Hospital in Bilaspur.

According to the report, the oxygen plants were left non-operational to allow officials and staff to continue receiving commissions from the purchase of external oxygen cylinders. Despite multiple inspections, the authorities allegedly made no attempts to restart the plants.

“During the covid pandemic period, three Oxygen plants were installed in the District Hospital but no employees have been deployed for its upkeep and maintenance and furthermore, it is being operated by untrained employees and computer operators because of which two Oxygen Plants have stopped working. At present, oxygen supply is being made from the oxygen cylinders which are brought from outside.'' the news item said.

The court also raised concerns regarding another news report about Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur. The report stated that the Outpatient Department (OPD) remains closed on Sundays, and doctors attend to emergencies only when called in. It further highlighted that the hospital is primarily being operated by medical staff without adequate doctor presence on these days.

The report further alleges that during holidays, health centers operate in emergency mode, leaving no medicines available for outpatients, even for minor ailments. At the District Hospital, OPD rooms were found locked, causing patients to endure hardship due to this negligence.

Expressing concern over both news reports, the bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru directed the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health & Family Welfare Department, Chhattisgarh Government, to submit an affidavit addressing the issues.

A short time was also granted to the Advocate General to seek instructions on the matter.

Case Title: In the matter of Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation versus State of Chhattisgarh & Others, WPPIL No. 76 of 2024