Give Free Treatment To Bhopal Gas Tragedy Victims Suffering From Cancer In Bhopal AIIMS: Madhya Pradesh High Court Directs Govt

In a significant order, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the State Government to provide free of cost treatment to Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims who are suffering from Cancer in Bhopal AIIMS.

The Bench of Chief Justice Mohd. Rafiq and Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla ordered thus on a plea filed by Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sangthan and others, a matter which was remitted to the High Court by the Supreme Court for further monitoring the cases of Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims.

The High Court had reconstituted the monitoring committee under thePradesh chairmanship of Retired Judge, Justice Vive Agarwal which submitted its 17th Report on 16 August 2021 and stated that the Cancer patients (from among the gas victims) were being sent to private hospitals and that they were not being provided free treatment.

The report also suggested that no patient be denied treatment and the state government should ensure that the treatment facility is made available to each of the gas victim cancer patients. The report also hinted towards a lack of staff and infrastructure in the hospitals where the patients are to be given free treatment.

In response to this, appearing for the Union Government, Counsel Vikram Singh submitted that the advertisement for recruitment on various posts of medical staff has already been issued and for paramedical staff also, an endeavour was being made to outsource the services for the treatment of such cancer patients. 

The counsel appearing for the Monitoring Committee submitted that the Committee shall again inspect and give a specific report as to whether any improvement has taken place with regard to treatment and other facilities being provided to gas victims and other patients after the control of BMHRC (Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre) was entrusted to ICMR.

Therefore, the Court posted the matter for further hearing on October 8, 2021.

In the meanwhile, the Court directed thus:

"...free of cost treatment be provided to the victims of Bhopal Gas Tragedy who are suffering from any of the cancers in AIIMS, Bhopal in the light of the recommendation made in the meeting convened by Additional Chief Secretary on 17.06.2021"

Senior Advocate Naman Nagrath and Advocate Rajesh K. Chand appearing for the petitioners

Case title - Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sangthan and Others v. Union Of India and Others

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