The Allahabad High Court, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation regarding the poor condition of Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital (SRN), an associate hospital of Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, has appreciated the state government's decision to allocate additional land for its expansion.
Court's Observations on Land Allotment
The court expressed hope that the land allotment would effectively address the medical challenges faced by patients from Prayagraj and its neighboring districts. Taking on record the counter affidavit submitted by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary, Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal noted that the "dream of a tertiary medical setup in the city has begun to take shape" with the allocation of 50,014 square meters of land to the medical college.
Recognition of Government Efforts
The judge highlighted that the expansion and upgradation of SRN Hospital had been made possible within a short period due to the efforts of former Additional Chief Secretary (Medical Health, Family Welfare and Medical Education) Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma and the incumbent Amit Kumar Ghosh. The court remarked that for a long time, residents had to travel to Lucknow or New Delhi for advanced treatment because of inadequate health infrastructure in the city.
"The allotment paves the way for specialised treatment facilities within the city and for catering to nearby districts," the court stated in its May 26 order, adding that the move reflects the government's commitment to strengthening healthcare. It also noted that close monitoring of construction activity by the Chief Secretary indicated the government's sensitivity to public needs.
Hearing Proceedings
During the hearing, District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma and MLN Medical College Principal V K Pandey were present. The court exempted Pandey from personal appearance until further orders and posted the matter for May 29. The case is expected to continue with further updates on the progress of the hospital expansion.
