HC asks Centre, AAP govt, others to explore land for Mohalla Clinics

Delhi High Court on Wednesday has asked the Centre, the AAP government, and civic bodies to explore land availability for the setting up of Mohalla clinics in the Capital.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar also directed the authorities, including Delhi Development Authority (DDA), to examine the sites suggested by the AAP government for establishing these facilities.

The directions came while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO 'Justice for All', through advocate Khagesh Jha. The plea sought directions to authorities to allot adequate number of plots for construction of these clinics with permission to raise the appropriate temporary structures to run them.

The PIL also claimed that the Lieutenant Governor (LG) had already approved the scheme of Mohalla Clinics, but multiplicity of agencies and difference of opinion among them has led to the scheme working at a very slow pace. He also highlighted the sorry state of health facilities in the national capital.

The bench directed the authorities to file a feasibility report with regard to the land falling in their jurisdiction within two weeks, warning of strict action in case they fail to comply with the orders