Times
of India: Ahmedabad: Tuesday, 13 April 2021.
“This information is not for court use,” a stamped seven page RTI reply by the government-run New Civil Hospital at Majura Gate in Surat city admits that nearly 188 of its 244 essential technical assistant positions, essential for Covid management at the hospital junior pharmacists, lab technicians, lab assistants, operation theatre assistants along with 34 other positions are empty. Also some 122 nursing staff positions are yet to be filled against the approval for 742 nursing positions. In times of the pandemic, the new civil hospital happens to be one of the hospitals at the centre of Covid management in Surat city. The RTI also reveals how posts like medical superintendent and even a resident superintendent are left vacant.
“How is information related to a health crisis in Gujarat provided to a citizen under RTI Act not for court use? Does the government mean that a citizen be discouraged from approaching courts with this information that explains where the state’s resources should go? Has the government been directed by courts any time that information under RTI Act should not be placed before the courts? If so, then where is the written order?” asks RTI applicant Alpesh Bhavsar from Relief Road. Bhavsar had filed a series of RTI petitions highlighting the large government vacancies across government hospitals in the state over the past seven months. The RTI reply Bhavsar received also reveals that at the new civil hospital, all of the assistant professors, numbering 23-25 posts are appointed on temporary basis. A senior medical officer in the state health department told TOI that all RTI applications will be stamped, “Not for court use” as per official orders.
“This information is not for court use,” a stamped seven page RTI reply by the government-run New Civil Hospital at Majura Gate in Surat city admits that nearly 188 of its 244 essential technical assistant positions, essential for Covid management at the hospital junior pharmacists, lab technicians, lab assistants, operation theatre assistants along with 34 other positions are empty. Also some 122 nursing staff positions are yet to be filled against the approval for 742 nursing positions. In times of the pandemic, the new civil hospital happens to be one of the hospitals at the centre of Covid management in Surat city. The RTI also reveals how posts like medical superintendent and even a resident superintendent are left vacant.
“How is information related to a health crisis in Gujarat provided to a citizen under RTI Act not for court use? Does the government mean that a citizen be discouraged from approaching courts with this information that explains where the state’s resources should go? Has the government been directed by courts any time that information under RTI Act should not be placed before the courts? If so, then where is the written order?” asks RTI applicant Alpesh Bhavsar from Relief Road. Bhavsar had filed a series of RTI petitions highlighting the large government vacancies across government hospitals in the state over the past seven months. The RTI reply Bhavsar received also reveals that at the new civil hospital, all of the assistant professors, numbering 23-25 posts are appointed on temporary basis. A senior medical officer in the state health department told TOI that all RTI applications will be stamped, “Not for court use” as per official orders.
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