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Time of India
7 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Delhi govt gets 3 months to decide if SC order covers Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital
New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Wednesday gave three months' time to Delhi govt to decide if a 2018 landmark Supreme Court verdict applies to Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital. The apex court had ruled that private hospitals in the city, allotted land at subsidised rates, could not do away with the mandatory requirement of providing free treatment to 25% OPD and 10% IPD patients from the economically weaker section (EWS) category. A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedella asked the govt to take a call on the issue after it transpired that soon after the verdict, the authorities concerned wrote to the hospital asking it to reserve beds for EWS patients. However, the hospital wrote back that it wasn't covered by the SC ruling as it was not similarly placed as other private hospitals. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi To be sure, the hospital informed the high court on Wednesday that since March 1, 2023, it had extended free treatment to 25% OPD and 10% IPD patients from the EWS category. The high court was hearing a petition seeking action against the cancer hospital for not providing free treatment as per the mandate issued by Supreme Court against hospitals allotted land by the govt at subsidised rates, which must provide free treatment to EWS category patients. The hospital, in Feb 2023, on a separate public interest litigation, had assured the court that it would provide free treatment to EWS patients, leading the court to dispose of the plea. The petitioner alleged that the hospital had made unwarranted profits during the last two decades by not providing all free treatment to EWS patients and was, therefore, liable to make good to society by paying such an amount of unwarranted profit to the govt. While the plea alleged that the hospital violated the high court's 2007 order and the apex court's July 9, 2018 verdict, the hospital argued it was not covered by the verdict. In the 2007 judgement, the high court first directed that all the 20 hospitals, which were party to the matter, and other identically situated hospitals would have to strictly comply with the terms of free patient treatment to indigent/poor patients.
New Indian Express
24-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Delhi HC takes note of poor functioning of One-Stop Centres for women
NEW DELHI: Taking serious note of the poor functioning of Delhi's One Stop Centres (OSCs) for women affected by violence, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a series of directions to the city government to ensure their effective operation and raise public awareness. The court was responding to a news report that exposed the alarming conditions at these centres, which are meant to provide integrated support and assistance to women in distress. A bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela remarked that the report 'gives a telling story of the pathetic situation prevailing in OSCs.' The bench criticised both the Delhi government and the police for failing to take adequate steps to implement and publicise the objectives of the centres. It directed the government to create widespread awareness about the OSCs by publishing advertisements in at least two newspapers and installing signboards at prominent public locations across the city—including schools, hospitals, railway stations, bus terminals, markets, and police stations. The signboards must carry detailed information about the OSCs and relevant helpline numbers. Although the Delhi government had submitted an affidavit on May 19, 2025, outlining the steps it had taken, the court found these measures unsatisfactory. 'Having regard to the affidavit filed, we are constrained to observe that necessary steps and actions which are required to be taken... have not been taken,' the bench noted. The directions came during a hearing on a plea filed by the NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan, which highlighted critical lapses in OSC functioning—such as underutilisation, unpaid staff, lack of infrastructure, and inadequate deputation of police personnel.
Hindustan Times
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
HT impact: HC raps Delhi govt, police over ‘pathetic' state of one-stop centres for women
The Delhi high court on Wednesday pulled up the Delhi government and the Delhi Police for the poor state of the capital's one-stop centres (OSCs), which are meant to support women affected by violence, after taking note of a Hindustan Times report that exposed dire conditions, staff shortages, and infrastructure gaps at several OSCs. The one stop centre at Lok Nayak Hospital is an exception as it boasts a clean, fully equipped shelter with AC rooms, on-site staff housing, and a dedicated vehicle. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo) HT's June 24 report, 'Locked doors and empty rooms: Delhi's one-stop centres are falling apart', flagged how centres at the Tihar prison complex, Shahdara, Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial (BJRM) Hospital and Lok Nayak Hospital were operating with little to no staff and minimal facilities. A bench of chief justice DK Upadhyay and justice Tushar Rao Gedela said the report 'gives a telling story of the pathetic situation prevailing in OSCs' and criticised both the Delhi government and the police for failing to take 'necessary steps and action' to implement and promote the purpose of these centres. 'Today, a news report published by HT in its Delhi edition has been brought to our notice by the counsel for the petitioner... Though the report mentions at least one such centre, running at Lok Nayak Hospital, where facilities were found to be adequate, the report also talks of inadequate infrastructure at these centres and paucity of staff to take care of the victims for whose benefit these centres were established,' the court said. It added, 'The Delhi government has filed an affidavit on May 19, 2025—detailing the steps they have taken. We are not satisfied with the steps and measures taken by the Delhi government and the Delhi Police so far as publicity and creating awareness about these centres are concerned. We are constrained to observe that necessary steps and action have not been taken.' The court directed the government to urgently publicise the existence of OSCs and their helpline numbers—through advertisements in at least two newspapers and signboards at schools, hospitals, railway stations, bus terminals, markets, and police stations. It also ordered immediate recruitment to fill staff vacancies, payment of pending salaries, and strengthening of infrastructure. The case stems from a petition filed by NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan, represented by advocate Prabhsahay Kaur. The plea had raised concerns over salary delays, absence of deputed police officers, and procedural gaps—particularly the lack of police awareness around child marriage and minor pregnancy cases, which often compounded trauma for victims. 'OSCs have been established to cater to the special needs of crime victims who are vulnerable by virtue of the nature of the offence they have suffered. Keeping any One Stop Centre understaffed defeats the very purpose of its existence,' the court said. The NGO said the lack of awareness among police personnel about procedures in cases involving underage pregnancies and child marriages had caused additional trauma to the victims. The bench also asked the government to circulate standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to child pregnancies and child marriages to police personnel and OSC staff, and to appoint a nodal officer for implementation and monitoring. It directed the administration to issue appropriate circulars to ensure these protocols are followed. The court scheduled the next hearing for October 15. The OSCs were launched in November 2019 to assist women facing gender-based violence—whether domestic, sexual, or psychological—under a single roof, in compliance with the Supreme Court's December 2018 direction to set up such centres in every district. Since taking office in February, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta has repeatedly backed the centres and promised to establish 11 more—one in each district.
Hindustan Times
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Fix OSCs to support women affected by violence, Delhi high court tells govt
The Delhi high court on Wednesday issued a slew of directions to the Delhi government for effective functioning and proper publicity of the city's One Stop Centres (OSC's), aimed to support women affected by violence, taking note of a Hindustan Times report highlighting the dire conditions and shortcomings prevailing in these centres. HT on June 24 published a report underscoring the inadequate infrastructure, paucity of staff in Delhi's One Stop Centres. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo) HT on June 24 published a report, 'Locked doors and empty rooms: Delhi's one-stop centres are falling apart' underscoring the inadequate infrastructure, paucity of staff in the city's OSC's, including the ones in Tihar prison complex, Shahdara, Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial (BJRM) Hospital and Lok Nayak Hospital. A bench of chief justice DK Upadhyay and justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed that the news report, 'gives a telling story of the pathetic situation prevailing in OCS's', adding that the Delhi government and police had failed to take 'necessary steps and action' to implement and promote the objectives for which these centres were established. The court directed the government to publicise the existence of these centres amongst stakeholders including police personnel, victims– by publishing advertisement in two newspapers, affixing sign boards in all conspicuous places including schools, hospitals, railway station, bus stations, market places, police stations highlighting the existence of OSCs and helpline number. 'Today, a news report published by HT in its Delhi edition, has been brought to our notice by the counsel for the petitioner. The said news report gives a telling story of the pathetic situation prevailing in OSC's. Though the report also mentions at least one such centre running at Lok Nayak Hospital where facilities have been reported to be found adequate, the newspaper report apart from mentioning inadequate infrastructure available with these centers, also reports paucity of staff to take care of the victims and for whose benefits these OSCs have been established,' the court said in its order. It added, 'The Delhi government has filed an affidavit on May 19, 2025—- detailing the steps that they have taken. We are not satisfied with the steps and measures taken by the Delhi government and the Delhi police so far as publicity and creating awareness about these centres are concerned. Having regard to the affidavit filed, we are constrained to observe that necessary steps and action which are required to be taken on behalf of government and Delhi police have not been taken.' The court was responding to a plea filed by the NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan, which highlighted the underutilisation of OSCs with regards to the payment of salaries to the staff, deputation of police officers. In its petition argued by advocate Prabhsahay Kaur, the NGO had asserted that the unawareness of the police personnel with regards to the procedures to be followed in cases of minor pregnancy and child marriages had led to further trauma to the victims of such crimes. On Wednesday, the court also directed the government to forthwith recruit the staff and fill the existing vacancies, noting that the lack of adequate personnel could undermine the very purpose of the One Stop Centres and hinder their effectiveness. It also asked the government to pay salaries to the staff on time and arrange infrastructure. 'OSC's have been established to cater special needs of victims of crime who are vulnerable by virtue of the nature of the crime that they have been subjected to. For this reason alone, keeping any one stop centre not adequately staffed will ultimately lead to failure of the object sought to be achieved by establishing such centers,' the court said in its order. It further asked the government to circulate the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to deal with cases of child pregnancy and child marriage be circulated to all relevant stakeholders, including police personnel and staff at the centres, issue appropriate circulars for its implementation and adherence and appoint a nodal officer for its proper functioning. The matter would be next heard on October 15. The OSC's were launched in November 2019, to assist women facing gender-based violence—whether domestic, sexual, or psychological—under a single roof, in compliance with the Supreme Court's December 2018 direction for setting up such centres in every district. After Rekha Gupta took over as Delhi's chief minister in February, she repeatedly highlighted the mission of these centres and promised to set up 11 more, one in each district.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Trust Deficit: HC On Signature View
New Delhi: There is a lot of "trust deficit" between the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the residents of Signature View Apartments, Delhi High Court said on Friday, asking the civic agency to "establish trust". Trying to break the impasse where residents have refused to vacate the towers in the north Delhi society despite these being declared dangerous, the bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said both sides must look for a resolution and "move ahead" for the project to be completed. "There is a lot of trust deficit. The contention of the residents is not incorrect. You have to establish trust by first putting in the money," the bench told DDA after it found no payment of rentals was made to several residents who willingly moved out of their rickety flats, despite a promise by the land-owning agency, prompting other residents to stay put, instead of handing over their apartments for reconstruction. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi It ordered DDA to file an affidavit giving details of the status of the process of payment of rent to eligible residents. "You are the one person who can get it all done," the court told senior advocate Sanjay Jain, who represented DDA, hinting that Jain's past record as additional solicitor-general and his stint as a long-time legal advisor to the lieutenant governor would come in handy in ensuring that a solution is found and the project to rebuild the flats is completed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The court was dealing with an appeal filed by the land-owning body against a single judge's order last year that approved the demolition of Signature View Apartments in Mukherjee Nagar but rejected DDA's proposal to build 168 additional flats by using an enhanced floor area ratio (FAR). The single judge held that allowing increased FAR would infringe upon the material rights of the flat owners and stressed that the common areas and facilities had already been transferred to the owners, and no additional flats could be built without their consent. In its order, the court last year also ordered DDA to pay "facilitation amounts" to the apartment owners until their reconstructed flats are handed over. It passed the order after hearing the flat owners' plea, where they accused civic agencies of corruption and maladministration, claiming substandard materials were used while making the apartments. In its appeal, filed through standing counsel Sanjay Katyal, DDA challenged the ruling on its interpretation of the FAR, arguing that it is allowed in law to construct 168 more flats and sell these. The Signature View Apartments complex has 10 towers with a stilt+10-storey structure and two towers with a stilt+6-storey structures.
