'Poorest Position': Delhi High Court On MCD's Affidavit In Plea For Cashless Medical Services To Retired Employees

The Delhi High Court today expressed displeasure at the counter affidavit filed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in response to a plea seeking 'cashless medical services' for its retired employees, who have deposited the subscription fees for this purpose.

The petition filed by Akhil Dilli Prathnim Shikshak Sangh prayed that instead of the prevalent arrangement wherein a retired employee is made to pay for the medical treatment first and is later reimbursed by the Health Department of MCD, the authority should be directed to directly make payments at the hospital.

It was submitted by Advocate Ranjit Sharma that the directions were necessary as the authority takes a very long time in reimbursing the retired employees for the payments they have made at the hospital.

The petitioner further informed the Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh that the MCD's conduct is contrary to its own (amended) scheme, providing that bills will be directly paid by the authority without charging the pensioners.

The Court noted that in its affidavit, the MCD had loosely used the word 'reimbursement' in place of cashless service.

"Your statements are contradictory. The complaint is that under the amended scheme, bills will directly come to you and you will make the payment without charging the pensioners. But you are using reimbursement word very loosely. There is contradiction in para 11 and 14. This is a very poorest position over here. The complaint is you're not following your own policy," the Bench remarked orally.

During the hearing, the Bench had also opined that in what manner the medical bills are to be paid is a policy decision an the Court cannot interfere in the same.

The case has now been posted for April 27, 2022.

Meanwhile, the Respondents have been directed to file a fresh affidavit in the matter.

The plea filed in December last year stated that a large number of retired employees, who did not receive pension on time, had to face extreme hardships in arranging money for their treatment as the Hospitals did not provide cashless treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advocate Namrata Mukim appeared for Respondents.

Case Title: Akhil Dilli Prathmik Shikshak Sangh