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AHMEDABAD: It took a judge 14-longyears to obtain a court order on medical reimbursement after he had undergone treatment at a private hospital . Yet, his ordeal is not over yet, as the Gujarat high court has just asked the state government to consider his case in next three months. Though not a final verdict about whether the government should reimburse the amount incurred on treatment at a private hospital, Justice J B Pardiwala has in unequivocal term lashed out at the rigid approach adopted by government officials in implementing rules and regulations. A district judge at Sabarkantha, C T Punjabi was a senior civil judge at Patan in 1998, when he injured the toe of his left foot while starting the engine of his scooter. He obtained preliminary treatment in a public hospital, but the injury developed into gangrene. Since he needed urgent medical care, he was admitted in a private hospital at Vadodara and later a senior surgeon performed surgery and amputated part of his leg. The judge footed a bill of Rs 87,462, but it was not cleared since he obtained the treatment at a private hospital. He moved the HC and during pendency, the government cleared Rs 35,000 of the claim amount in 2002. However, it was not acceptable to the judge, who continued to claim full amount with 12% interest. HC said that the government should have gracefully sanctioned the bill, and asked authorities to decide on it in three months. Criticizing the approach by officials in such cases, the HC observed, "All other things are subsequent and under the circumstances, the first priority is to save his life. It is not expected from an ailing person to run from pillar to post seeking permission or prior approval to get himself operated." |
| SOURCE: The Times of India |
