Morung Express News
Kohima | July 6
The Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, on July 6, has directed the Government of India represented by Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to make its stand clear on PIL regarding the extension of benefits to pregnant women.
“Considering the issue involved in this Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the respondent Union of India is directed to make its stand clear by filing an affidavit,” stated the order issued by the division Bench comprising of Chief Justice RM Chhaya and Justice LS Jamir.
With the central government counsel seeking four weeks’ time to enable to file affidavit, the hearing was adjourned to August 2.
As per the Court’s records, the PIL was filed in 2019 by Advocate Neiteo Koza and first heard in November 2019.
In her submission, the petitioner stated that the Government of Nagaland issued a notification dated June 24, 2019 “extending benefits to pregnant women but putting a cap on the benefits to be extended.”
Accordingly, the petitioner contended that the “same needs to be re-visited by the respondents and amended as per the guidelines issued by the National Health Mission Scheme.”
Other respondents of the PIL are the State of Nagaland, represented by the Chief Secretary; Principal And Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland; and Principal Director and Mission Director National Health Mission (NHM), Directorate of Health and Family Welfare.
