PIL challenging state government''s Health Policy filed in High Court; Govt submits affidavit

The deputy director (health), on behalf of the state government, has today submitted an affidavit, in response to public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the Health Policy of the state government before the Aurangabad Bench of Bombay High Court comprising Justice S V Gangapurwala and Justice S D Kulkarni.

On behalf of the litigant, Adv Amarjeet Singh Girase, objected upon the affidavit claiming that the figures mentioned in it are like throwing dust in the eyes. Meanwhile, the bench gave one week to the petitioner for submitting rejoinder in connection with the government''s affidavit. Petitioner Omprakash Shete filed the PIL.

The deputy director of health (Aurangabad) Dr Swapnil Lade submitted the affidavit after the High Court ordered him to submit it on behalf of the state government. Lade gave figures of Covid-19 patients who benefitted through 20 packages of the health schemes like Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana and Ayushman Bharat Pradhanmantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

During the hearing, Adv Girase submitted the copies of news published in various newspapers. He brought into the notice of the bench that when the PIL was filed, there were 8 lakh Covid-19 patients. Of which, 6.30 lakh patients should have benefitted through the health schemes. He mentioned that the information collected under the Right to Information Act stated that only 9,000 patients from Maharashtra benefitted through these schemes. Besides, out of 17,000 patients in Aurangabad, only 600 patients could get the benefit of the schemes.

The lawyer also brought into notice that one lakh Covid-19 patients have died in India, out of which, 38,000 were from Maharashtra. They could not get the treatment. The affidavit mentioned beneficiaries through 20 packages, but none of them is aware of when the government resolution was released. The figures for COVID and non-COVID patients are misleading.

The chief government pleader D R Kale has been appointed on behalf of the state government. Hence, on behalf of Kale, the assistant government pleader Sujit Karlekar pleaded today, while Adv Santosh Chapalgaonkar represented on behalf of the insurance company.