The Delhi High Court on Monday came to the aid of a daily wage labourer’s 11-year-old daughter, a heart patient, by directing the G.B Pant Hospital to provide treatment without insisting on pre-deposit of funds.
Costs incurred
Justice Vibhu Bakhru said that the Delhi government can examine whether the girl was entitled for free treatment and if found ineligible, the costs incurred by the hospital can be recovered from her father later. The court made it clear that pendency of the enquiry to ascertain their eligibility shall not come in the way of admitting her in the hospital and providing her the requisite treatment. With the directions, the court disposed of the petition moved on behalf of the girl’s father who claimed that he cannot afford to pay an amount of ₹50,000 sought by G.B. Pant Hospital to admit his daughter.
Hole in her heart
Advocate Ashok Aggarwal, appearing for the minor , told the court that she was in an urgent need of a surgery as she has a hole in her heart. The girl is presently admitted at the LNJP Hospital which cannot provide the treatment, the petition said.