HC seeks Delhi govt stand on PIL over limited beds for EWS in ILBS

NEW DELHI: (Mar 18) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the Delhi government's stand on a plea challenging the decision of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) to give free treatment to only 10 per cent beds in the in-patient department and 25 per cent cases in the out-patient department for economically weaker sections (EWS).

A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued notice to the Delhi government and ILBS on the public interest litigation (PIL) by NGO Social Justice.

Advocate Satyakam, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that IBLS, a premier government-funded public healthcare institution specialising in serious liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer, cannot be permitted to adopt a policy which effectively converts it into a "predominantly paid medical institution."