The Bombay High Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognizance of deaths at two government hospitals in Maharashtra, including the one in Nanded where 31 deaths including those of 16 children were recorded in 48 hours.
The court asked the state government to submit details about the budgetary allocation for health. The matter will be heard on Friday.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Arif Doctor said that deaths due to shortage of staff and medicines cannot go on, reported Live Law.
Earlier in the day, Mohit Khanna, an advocate, had submitted a letter to the high court requesting it to take suo motu cognizance of the deaths. The court initially asked Khanna to file a former petition along with details of vacancies in hospitals, availability of medicine and the percentage of funds the government is spending.
In the afternoon, the bench said it was taking suo motu cognizance of the issue.
While 31 deaths were reported at the Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital in Nanded in 48 hours since September 30, the Government Medical College and Hospital at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar recorded 18 deaths, including infants, in two days.
“While the government of Maharashtra appears to have initiated an enquiry regarding the incidents, one can only imagine the plight of the citizens who cannot afford healthcare and are dependent on the government for the same as well the relatives of those beavered," Khanna said in his letter.
