The Delhi High Court has issued a notice on a PIL urging the Union Government to ensure round-the-clock blood donation services without any restrictions.  

A division bench, led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, has sought a response from the Centre through the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.  

The case is scheduled for hearing on July 9.

The plea, filed by lawyer Vishal Arun Mishra, argues that volunteer donors face significant challenges in donating blood due to the limited operational hours of blood banks, which typically close by 4 or 5 pm.

“For example, the petitioner himself is an Advocate-On-Record and has to be available in the Courts till 05:00 to 05:30 pm, hence, whenever petitioner gets any call during working hours, he has to deny the same due to his professional obligations,” the plea states.

The plea further emphasizes that while blood donation is a noble cause, many volunteer donors and NGOs are unable to assist patients due to the restricted operating hours of hospitals.

“Despite the blood banks being operational 24 hours, the blood donation facility operates only within limited hours, causing difficulties for donors and jeopardizing patient care. This issue extends to private hospitals, which have adopted similar restrictive timings, further aggravating the problem,” the plea states.

The plea also urges the Central Government to take initiatives to promote the spirit of voluntary blood donation and prioritize the safety and comfort of donors in hospital operations.  

It has been filed through Advocates U.M. Tripathi, Rupali Panwar, and Shubham Gupta.