HC asks State to file fresh status report on Nagaland Medical College

Such instructions came from the HC bench comprising of Justice Songkhupchung Serto and Justice Devashis Baruah after it took note of the fact that the timeline regarding the project completion, which was mentioned in the previous report has lapsed.

The High court bench was considering a batch of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the NMC project along with other issues pertaining to infrastructures, workforce, and other amenities in the district hospitals and health centers.

Referring to an affidavit filed by the Principal Director of DoHFW on March 18, 2021, the bench mentioned on February 15, 2022 that the timeline for completion of different items of the project, as mentioned in the status report on NMC on March 14, 2021, has lapsed. So, the bench directed the DoHFW for filing the latest report regarding the medical college project on February 22.

Also Read: Nagaland gets Centre's nod for its 2nd medical college

Considering the assurance that the first MBBS batch would commence from 2022-2023 session, the bench inquired about the status of the permissions that are required to be obtained from concerned authorities for commencing classes.

Apart from this, the bench also discussed the issue regarding the release of funds for the completion of the NMC project.

On March 15, 2021, the bench had been informed by the state counsel that even though the Government of India has sanctioned Rs 170.10 crore for the project, the fund was released partially and it ultimately caused delay for completing the project.

In fact, regarding the issues concerning the lack of infrastructures, workforce, and other amenities in the district hospital and health centres, the DoHFW counsel had informed the court that one of the reasons for the non-implementation of the Health Mission schemes was the "non-release of the full amount as approved by the Central Government."

Even though the bench asked the Central Government Counsel (CGC) to bring instructions on the next hearing, it also noted that in the March 26, 2021 affidavit, the central government had included a chart that showed that funds had been released by the Union government.

So, the bench directed the counsel to "also compare the same with the chart incorporated in the affidavit of the Mission Director, National Health Mission and reconcile the two," reports The Morung Express.

Listing the matter for further hearing on February 22, the bench referred to the NMC project and directed the DoHFW to inform the court "as to the steps already taken and which are yet to be taken for starting the first batch of MBBS in the coming 2022-2023 session on the next date."

Directing the Government to file a fresh status report, the bench noted that with the fresh report it would be "able to ascertain how much of the fund released by the Government of India to the State Government has been released to the Department for implementation of the project."