The Madras High Court convened a special sitting on January 21 to address an urgent Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the temporary closure of the Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry. The closure was planned for half a day due to the Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha (temple consecration) ceremony taking place in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, on January 22.
During the proceedings, JIPMER clarified that no elective or planned surgeries were set for the morning session of January 22 and that the institute would remain closed until 2:30 PM to accommodate the ceremony.
Chief Justice Sanjay V. Gangapurwala and Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy listened to submissions from Additional Solicitor General AR.L. Sundaresan, represented by JIPMER standing counsel M.T. Arunan, confirming that all emergency surgeries and necessary medical procedures would continue as scheduled despite the closure.
The urgent hearing arose from a petition filed by R. Raja, a resident of Puducherry, who sought to overturn JIPMER’s circular issued after a directive from the Central Government, mandating the temporary closure until 2:30 PM for observance of the ceremony.
Senior Counsel V. Prakash, representing Raja, emphasized that JIPMER serves as a crucial healthcare provider for those in need, operating continuously to fulfill its mission. He expressed concerns that patients might face significant delays in receiving specialty treatments and tests, which are often booked months in advance if not completed on the scheduled day.
Opposing the petition, the Additional Solicitor General reiterated that elective surgeries had not been planned for that morning, and any necessary rescheduling would be managed promptly. He assured the court that emergency surgeries and evaluations would continue uninterrupted.
In response to the submissions, the court concluded, “In view of the said statement made by learned Additional Solicitor General, the apprehension of the petitioner would stand redressed. The writ petition, as such, is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.”
JIPMER’s decision to close for half a day was based on an Office Memorandum from the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, which stated that the Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha celebrations would be observed nationwide on January 22. The memorandum indicated that all Central Government offices and institutions across India would remain closed until 2:30 PM to allow employees to participate in the events.
Published – January 21, 2024, 02:01 PM IST
