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Indian Express
25-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
‘If your hospital's doctor prescribed recombinant factor, that's what patient should get': HC pull up govt
Since 2023, 37-year old Mukul Gandhi, a hemophilia patient in Delhi, has been rushing to Jaipur to get a dose of recombinant factor drug. Exasperated, he, along with a few other hemophilia patients, moved the Delhi High Court last November. Eight months on, the Delhi government, on July 14, assured the HC that it will proactively ensure that adequate stock of recombinant factor injections are made available in the Capital's hospitals. It also directed the government 'to ensure that adequate numbers of haematologists are recruited and deployed in hospitals run by GNCTD to attend to the patients'. Gandhi was diagnosed at AIIMS New Delhi with hemophilia when he was three years old – a cut during his mundan ceremony had resulted in incessant bleeding. While crossing paths with others in a similar situation, his parents came to know of an NGO that ensures availability of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) for hemophilia patients, the prevalent therapy at the time. Over time, the more advanced therapy of recombinant factor, also known as Antihemophilic Factor (AHF), was introduced and made available as therapy for hemophilia patients in India. Speaking to The Indian Express, Gandhi said, 'Between 2013 and 2019, government hospitals in Delhi were administering recombinant factor therapy. However, after 2019, we started seeing irregular availability of recombinant factor – held to be scientifically more efficacious than plasma… Many government hospitals started seeing plasma-derived factors being made available instead.' 'We would also suffer side effects of the plasma therapy, such as nausea and nose bleed. By 2023, we started witnessing an acute shortage of the recombinant factor therapy in Delhi's government hospitals. Twice a week, I would take a bus from Dhaula Kuan to Jaipur, which was offering a variety of recombinant factor therapies. While the recombinant factor therapy is easily available in tier 2 and 3 cities such as Jaipur and Haridwar, it is not available in the National Capital,' he added. On July 14, the Delhi government, while admitting to have witnessed a supply shortage of the recombinant factor therapy, brought two experts to the HC – State Blood Cell officer Dr Seema Kapoor and Hemophilia in charge Dr Sunita Aggarwal at Lok Nayak Hospital. They impressed before Justice Datta that from their experience, they have seen 'no difference in efficacy between recombinant or plasma… techniques are so much developed that efficacy is same'. Justice Datta, however, countered, 'I would generally accept what you have to say. But the court's concern is only one, when doctors prescribe recombinant, it should be available… if your hospital's doctor has prescribed recombinant factor, then that's what the patient should get… The court isn't competent to get into this but only thing is if recombinant is prescribed it should be available.' The government then informed the HC that 'currently, there are adequate stocks of recombinant factor injections'. It went on to assure that 'proactive efforts shall continue to be made to ensure that there is adequate stock of recombinant factor injections in future as well'. However, Gandhi – represented by advocate Amit Khanna –pointed at other systemic issues faced by hemophilia patients. 'Most government hospitals in Delhi do not have hemophilia daycare centres and there is no dignity in the way we are treated. Hematologists are not available, which is essential since they will be the ones deciding on the dose, in accordance to the patients' age, weight and other factors. Instead, this is being done by general medicine doctors.' 'At Lok Nayak Hospital, my doses were not given according to my weight. After being administered a dose, they would ask me to come again in 12 hours for the next one. Given our condition which already makes us weak and prone to fatigue, this is harassment…,' said Gandhi, who works in a Delhi-based tendering company. Owing to hemophilia, which has caused internal bleeding over the years making his joints weak, Gandhi has 69% disability. He said that he was advised knee replacement surgery around five years ago but has been unable to consider the same in the absence of a steady supply of recombinant factor therapy. 'There have been instances where my knees got locked while crossing the road. Any surgery means I will require several doses of the recombinant factor… I have postponed the surgery as there is uncertainty over the availability of the drugs,' he added.
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Fee row: Delhi HC dismayed over DPS Dwarka using bouncers to block students' entry
New Delhi, The Delhi High Court on Thursday called out Delhi Public School, Dwarka, for using "bouncers" to block the entry of students in its premises over a fee dispute. Noting such a practice had no place in an institution of learning, Justice Sachin Datta said public shaming and intimidation of a student due to financial default did not only constitute mental harassment but also undermined the psychological well being and self-worth of a child. The court said though the school was entitled to charge appropriate fees, especially given the financial outlay required to sustain infrastructure, remunerate staff and provide a conducive learning environment, it is a place different from a normal commercial establishment and carried fiduciary and moral responsibilities towards students. "This court is also constrained to express its dismay at the alleged conduct of the petitioner school in engaging 'bouncers' to physically block entry of certain students into the school premises. Such a reprehensible practice has no place in an institute of learning. It reflects not only disregard to the dignity of a child but also fundamental misunderstanding of a school's role in the society," its order read. The order came on a plea against the removal of over 30 students by the school over the issue of fee. At the time of pronouncing the order, the court was informed by the school's counsel that the order debarring 31 students was withdrawn and were reinstated. The court said the controversy raised in the parents' application was "moot" point. "However, it is clarified that if the school seeks to take any action in future by taking recourse to Rule 35 of the Delhi School Education Rules, 1973, then the school will issue a prior communication specifically putting the concerned students and/ or their parents/ guardians to notice as to the date on which the students are proposed to be struck off the rolls; give a reasonable opportunity to showcause against such action," it said. The court said the parents concerned were obliged to adhere to and comply with the orders passed by the coordinate bench of the high court regarding payment of requisite fees to the school. The May 16 order of the coordinate bench which directed parents to deposit 50 per cent of the hiked fees for academic year 2025-26 following which their wards will be allowed to continue their studies in the classes, gave clear and cogent directions on the amount of the fees payable, it added. The court had previously clarified that the rebate of 50 per cent was on the hiked component of the fee and the base fee should be paid in full. Justice Datta on Thursday observed the use of bouncers fostered a "climate of fear, humiliation and exclusion" which was incompatible with the fundamental ethos of a school. The driving force and character of a school, particularly a school such as the petitioner , run by a pre-eminent society, was rooted not in profit maximisation but in public welfare, nation building and the holistic development of children, the judge said. The court underlined education and inculcation of values to be a school's primary objective and not operating as a business enterprise. The school had previously refuted allegations of profiteering and argued it was running on deficit and due notices were sent to the parents. The school's counsel said the school had a deficit of ₹31 crore accumulated over the last 10 years. The students were expelled on May 9 following which the parents filed an application in a pending petition of the school. The school moved the high court in July 2024, challenging a July 18, 2024 notice of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, directing the deputy commissioner of police to register an FIR under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act against the school.
Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Indian Express
Delhi HC mulls striking down DPS Dwarka's order to expel 32 students for non-payment of fees
The Delhi High Court on Friday orally observed that it is inclined to stay Delhi Public School (DPS) Dwarka's order expelling 32 students for non-payment of fees and noted that the school has not complied with provisions of the Delhi School Education Act. Justice Sachin Datta was hearing an application moved by the parents of the 32 students who were expelled by the school earlier this week. DPS Dwarka argued before the court that there was no court directive that said that the students had to be taken on the rolls without paying fees. The school also told the court that it had 'accumulated a loss of Rs 49 crore last year'. However, Justice Datta inquired if the school had issued a show-cause notice as stipulated under Section 35(4) of the Delhi School Education Rules, 1973. The section states that even if a student's name is to be struck off for any reason, the school must provide the student's parent or guardian a reasonable opportunity to show cause against the proposed action. While DPS Dwarka claimed that it had issued a show-cause notice, the petitioner parents denied this. Justice Datta, addressing DPS Dwarka, orally remarked, 'You produce the notices…show me a notice where you informed the students that if you don't pay the fees, you will be off the rolls on 13th May…I think I will stay this order immediately…This order (by the school expelling the students) has to go for non-compliance with Rule 35 (4).' The court, however, deferred the matter for further hearing and for orders on May 19. After the students were expelled, the Delhi government's Directorate of Education (DoE) had on Thursday evening issued an order directing the management at DPS Dwarka to immediately withdraw the order. It also directed the school to add the names of the 32 students or any other students who were rusticated back on the school rolls. Meanwhile, in another petition by parents of 102 students of DPS Dwarka seeking directions to the Delhi government's DOE to examine the non-compliance of administrative orders by DOE as well as judicial orders by the school, Justice Vikas Mahajan on Friday directed that DPS Dwarka be added as a party in the petition. Additionally, the court also said it will pass necessary orders later in the day, following a request from the petitioners to ensure their wards' education continues uninterrupted.
