CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court issued a notice to the Punjab government on a plea seeking directions to appoint doctors on 436 vacant posts in rural dispensaries in the state.

It was stated in the petition that the posts had been vacant all across the state resulting in people residing in rural areas losing their right to life, which included right to get free medicines, at their door steps. A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli of the HC issued the notice after considering a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Yadwinder Singh, a resident of Mehal Kalan village in Moga district.

The petitioner had stated that his grandfather, Ujjagar Singh Saini, had donated land free of cost for setting up a rural dispensary in the village and the dispensary had been lying closed for the last two years as there was no doctor and other medical staff.

The petitioner also sought directions to immediately resume supply of medicines for rural dispensaries considering the fact that since October 2018, rural dispensaries in the state had not received any medicines.

The petitioner stated that medicines which were nearing expiry date were being supplied in rural dispensaries. It was also stated that several medicines, meant for intensive care unit (ICU), having no use at the rural dispensaries, were also being supplied for formality.

The HC has asked the state government to file a reply within two weeks. (TNN)