The Allahabad High Court has directed the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh to explain why it is unnecessary to establish an AIIMS in Prayagraj. This directive comes as part of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Sahaj Sarathi Foundation and others. Additional Chief Standing Counsel AK Goyal assured the court that the Chief Secretary will be informed about the order.
In a previous hearing, the court sought information from the Central Government’s Additional Solicitor General, Shashi Prakash Singh, regarding the ground realities surrounding the establishment of AIIMS in Prayagraj. Singh requested additional time to file an affidavit detailing the Central Government’s position. The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 17.
Growing Need for Medical Facilities in Prayagraj
Advocate Satyendra Chandra Tripathi, representing the petitioners, argued that only one AIIMS has been established in Purvanchal over the past decade, despite the region’s rapidly growing population. He highlighted that Prayagraj has excellent connectivity by road and rail, yet lacks a high-quality medical facility.
The Additional Solicitor General cited information from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, noting that while AIIMS facilities have been established in several states, the Central Government has no current plans for a new AIIMS in Uttar Pradesh after the one in Gorakhpur. The court expressed concern about the increasing pressure on medical services and emphasized the need for a report from the Central Government regarding the establishment of AIIMS in Prayagraj.
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