SHILLONG, Feb 21: A division bench of the High Court of Meghalaya observed that a lot more need to be done by the state government to provide better facilities for the treatment of cancer patients.
The bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh made the observation on a PIL filed by a lawyer, Lurshaphrang Shongwan.
The court said an affidavit was filed by the Secretary, Health and Family Welfare department, indicating the facilities available for cancer patients and the state government’s efforts to improve the number of beds and augment the measures of treatment for cancer patients at the Shillong Government Hospital, etc.
Observing that the petitioner made several suggestions, the court said if implemented, they would entail huge expenditure and it is neither in a position to assess the finances available with the state government nor will it issue a mandamus in this regard.
“Suffice it to say that the facilities for cancer patients are inadequate and serious and large-scale augmentation is necessary, in addition to what has been done or is proposed to be done,” the bench said in its order.
The petitioner said the government should accept his suggestions. He had urged the court to direct the authorities to utilise Rs 19.84 crore received by the state government out of Rs 26.16 crore sanctioned by the Department of Atomic Energy towards augmenting cancer treatment in the state.
The court said since every measure, which the government is required to take, involves expenses and depends on the availability of funds and resources obtained from the Centre, all that it (court) can do in such a situation is to act as a catalyst to ensure that proper measures are taken as expeditiously as possible so that a system is put in place which is able to deal with the needs of people suffering from cancer.
While disposing of the PIL, the court requested the government to implement the plans indicated in the affidavit and take into account the suggestions of the petitioner, subject to cost constraints.
Stating that the disposal of the petition will not stand in the way of the petitioner or anyone else applying afresh after the expiry of a year to allow the government to put in place the measures indicated in the affidavit, the court said if the facilities available by June, 2023 are not adequate to deal with cancer patients, the petitioner will have the liberty to file a fresh appeal.
