Centre’s response on capping drug prices frivolous: Telangana HC
The panel also granted two weeks to the State government to come up with its pricing of medical tests in Telangana
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Wednesday expressed its dissatisfaction at how the Central government responded on capping prices of life-saving drugs.
Dealing with the Covid-related matters, a two-judge panel, comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Vijaysen Reddy, dubbed the Centre’s response as “frivolous”, and totally unsatisfactory and unacceptable.
The panel also granted two weeks to the State government to come up with its pricing of medical tests in Telangana. It recorded the statement of Medical and Health Secretary SAM Rizvi that the entire team is busy dealing with an upsurge in the bordering districts and therefore, required some more time. He also informed the court that a plethora of positive decisions had been taken by the State Cabinet which when formally notified would address many of the issues raised. Of the 12 new RT-PCR test centres proposed, 8 are already in operation and the rest would be operational in a day, he told the panel.
Rizvi also informed the panel of the progress in the constitution of the Expert Advisory Committee under the Disaster Management Act. He said a proposal with the names is awaiting approval and would be out in about a week. Of the 223 complaints involving 135 hospitals, a sum of Rs 65 lakh had already been reimbursed to the families who were wrongly billed.
Pointing out to the recent massive vaccination initiative in the city, the Chief Justice said if private players could do it, why is the government still hesitant. The court was then told that the entire plan is now in place and the State would complete the entire vaccination exercise in three months.
The panel recorded the intent of the State government to toe the Centre’s guidelines on inoculating the underprivileged and vulnerable groups, including nomads, inmates of prisons, old-age homes and mental health institutions etc and examine the near-to-home vaccination facilities for the aged and the differently-abled.
Senior counsel L Ravichander pointed out that many of the promises were not backed by timelines. The panel then directed the government to give its specific timelines on several of its plans and programmes mentioned in its affidavit. He also pointed out that over 30,000 vacancies in the medical department required to be filled up to level up the infrastructure being provided. The panel asked the government to come up with its timeline on this.
Chikkudu Prabhaker, another advocate appearing in the matter, pointed out the failure to establish community kitchens while another, Pujita, said the number of beds provided for children as of now is inadequate given the possibility of the surge in the third wave. The matters are now directed to be listed on June 23.
Encroachment of wakf property
The same panel in a PIL concerning the encroachment of wakf property extended the time period for evicting encroachers. The panel was referring to an affidavit filed by the CEO of the Wakf Board to record the status of action taken by the board. The panel recorded that 50% of all challenges against eviction notices are pending before the High court whereas 10% of the same are before the Supreme Court and the remaining before the Wakf Tribunal. The counsel for the Wakf Board submitted that a special task force was set up by the DGP, Telangana, to enforce eviction notices. The board’s affidavit said efforts are being taken up to secure an early hearing where matters concerning wakf land are involved. The panel posted the case to August 4.
Conservation of Hyd monuments
The panel in a PIL suo moto taken up by the court for the conservation of 27 monuments in and around Hyderabad including Qutub Shahi tombs and Golconda Fort directed the State to submit a comprehensive conservation plan within six weeks.
The panel in the earlier hearing set up a committee for submitting a redevelopment plan besides monitoring the budget and the plan’s execution. The panel rejected the request of the State to permit them six months to conduct a field survey. It said a fresh affidavit has to be submitted within six weeks. The case was posted on July 28.
Costs imposed on counsel
The said panel true to its earlier declaration imposed costs of Rs 1,000 on the appellant to be paid for the Covid Relief Fund of the State Bar Council. The panel was dealing with a writ appeal preferred against a discom in a matter concerning appointments of sub-engineers. The appeal was preferred by U Shiva Shankar against an order of the High Court dismissing their challenge to the recruitment procedure. It also imposed costs of Rs 10,000 on the counsel for the appellant, who sought an adjournment on grounds of ill health and the same was requested to the court through a proxy counsel. It was brought to the attention of the court that the said counsel had appeared before another bench the same day. The panel directed the counsel on record to pay a sum of 10,000 to the Bar Council which is to be earmarked for Covid relief.
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