In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court on Tuesday nullified a directive from the Allahabad High Court that mandated government officials in Uttar Pradesh to exclusively use government-run hospitals for medical treatment. The 2018 High Court order was part of an extensive judgment aimed at improving the healthcare infrastructure in the state’s public hospitals and medical colleges.
The apex court’s bench, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, highlighted that such mandates infringe upon policy-making prerogatives and restrict personal medical choices. The justices emphasized that while the intention behind the High Court’s directive was to bolster the conditions of public healthcare facilities, it should not impinge on individual rights to choose their preferred medical services.
“The High Court’s intention to improve the healthcare system is commendable, but its approach in restricting treatment options for government officials is not permissible. It oversteps the boundaries of judicial reach into policy areas,” stated CJI Khanna during the proceedings.
Direction No. 11 of the High Court’s ruling specifically required that all state officials and public sector employees seek healthcare solely from government facilities and prohibited reimbursement for treatments availed at private institutions, except under circumstances where such treatments were not available in public hospitals. This, the Supreme Court noted, could lead to unintended disparities in access to healthcare, potentially prioritizing government employees over the general populace.
The Supreme Court’s decision also opens the door for new petitions to be filed that are better substantiated with specific data and factual evidence concerning the healthcare services in question.
The Allahabad High Court had originally issued 21 directives aimed at addressing a range of deficiencies within the public healthcare system following a PIL initiated by a woman who suffered severe complications due to alleged negligence at a government facility. These directives included orders to fill vacancies for medical staff, ensure the availability of quality medicines and medical equipment, enhance maternal healthcare services, and conduct a comprehensive audit of hospital management and financial practices by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
