Make facilities provided to Medanta Hospital public: CIC to government

Financial Express: New Delhi: Monday, 01 September 2014.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the Centre to disclose the facilities which are being provided to the posh Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon.

The case relates to an RTI application filed by activist Subhash Agrawal through which he has sought to know the details of the facilities being extended to the hospital out of public funds.

The Health Ministry refused to provide the information saying it does not have the relevant details.

Information Commissioner Yashowardhan Azad has said any facility provided by the government to any hospital is out of public funds.

"Public funds are those funds which are collected by the state from the citizens by imposition of taxes, duties, cess, service charges, etc. These funds are held by the state in trust for being utilised for the benefit of the general public.

"Every citizen is entitled to know how the money, which is collected by the state from him by taxation, has been utilised," Azad said in the order.

CIC, however, rejected the request for disclosure of the medical bills of former Chief Justice of India Justice J S Verma saying it was personal information and Agrawal has not been able to show any larger public interest.

"The Commission directs the respondent to provide specific reply to the appellant, within three weeks of receipt of the order, in relation to the query on facilities provided by the government to Medanta Hospital," he said.