The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the city government about the steps, which can be taken to regulate pathological labs and clinics in the Capital.
A Bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V.K. Rao termed the presence of unauthorised pathological labs and clinics here as a “serious issue”, while directing the city government to inspect the labs and clinics and find out who are running them and under which law they were being set up.
The Bench said that after the inspection, the government should file an affidavit indicating steps that can be taken to regulate these entities till the legislature frames a law for the purpose.
“It is a serious issue. Till the legislature brings a law, what steps can be taken to regulate such activity?” the Bench said as it listed the case for further hearing on November 30. It gave the government six weeks to indicate the status regarding finalisation of the law, which is being formulated to regulate pathological and diagnostic labs as well as clinics.
The direction came after the Delhi government said the law was under formulation and views of stakeholders was awaited.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by Bejon Kumar Misra, a social activist. It alleged that the unauthorised labs and diagnostic centres were being managed by unqualified technicians. It has sought formulation of a policy to regulate the setting up and running of such entities.
The plea also sought an alternative guidelines for implementation of the Clinical Establishments (Registration Regulation) Act 2010 to deal with the issue.