Construction works at the entrance to the Nagaland Medical College is seen in the photo taken October 10, 2021. The foundation stone for the Nagaland’s first the medical college in Phriebagei under Kohima district was laid by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in March 2014, who later informed the State Assembly in February 2021 that the State Government is “planning to apply for starting the Kohima Medical College from the academic year 2022-23 to the National Medical Commission.’ (Morung File Photo)
• Directs State counsel to apprise Court on starting first batch of MBBS
• Asks for latest status of fund released by the GoI for the project
Morung Express News
Kohima | February 17
With timelines for completion of different items of the Nagaland Medical College (NMC) in Kohima submitted earlier by the State Government lapsing, the Kohima Bench of Guwahati High Court (GHC) has directed the State’s Department of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW) to submit the latest status report of the project on February 22.
Justice Songkhupchung Serto and Justice Devashis Baruah of GHC Kohima Bench issued the direction on February 15 while hearing a batch of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) pertaining to the NMC project as well as infrastructures, workforce and other amenities in the district hospitals and health centres and other health related issues.
In its February 15 order, the Bench observed that in an affidavit filed by the Principal Director, DoHFW on March 18, 2021, a status report on the NMC, as on March 14, 2021, was annexed, including timelines for completion of different items of the project. The timelines have since lapsed and the Bench directed the DoHFW to file the latest status report on February 22.
On the assurance to start the first MBBS batch from the 2022-23 session, it directed the DoHFW to apprise 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” of hearing.
Besides, it also asked for the status of the permissions that are required to be obtained from statutory bodies for starting the Medical College.
In addition, the DoHFW counsel was also directed to file the latest status on the release of Rs. 170.10 crore by the Government of India (GoI) to the Government of Nagaland for the NMC project.
Earlier on March 15, 2021, the counsel had submitted in Court that while the GoI has sanctioned Rs 170.10 crore, the fund was released partially, contributing to the delay in the completion of the project.
With the latest status report, the Bench noted that 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.”
Infrastructures etc in district hospitals and health centres
On matters concerning the lack of infrastructures, workforce and other amenities in the district hospitals and health centres, the Court noted that the DoHFW counsel had informed that one of the reasons for the shortfall in the implementation of the schemes under the Health Mission was the “non-release of the full amount as approved by the Central Government.”
Accordingly, the Bench asked the Central Government Counsel (CGC) to come with instruction on the next date of hearing.
However, the Bench also highlighted that the Central Government in another affidavit filed on March 26, 2021 included a chart showing funds released to the State Government.
To this end, the Bench told the DoHFW counsel to file status report on the utilisation of the funds mentioned” in the affidavit submitted by the Central Government.
The counsel “shall also compare the same with the chart incorporated in the affidavit of the Mission Director, National Health Mission and reconcile the two,” it added.
The Kohima Bench of Guwahati High Court (GHC) listed the matter for hearing again on February 22.
