SC grants status quo after NMC moves against Alexis Hospital

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has moved Supreme Court for action against Alexis Hospital for alleged irregularities while testing patients. The civic body challenged the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court’s verdict of July 24, where it came under fire from judges for sealing the hospital’s genetic clinic and also threatening to cancel its registration.
While issuing notices to the hospital, the apex court’s division bench comprising justices Rohington Fali Nariman, Navin Sinha and Indira Banerjee directed both parties to maintain a status quo in the matter.
Earlier, passing strictures on NMC’s deputy chief medical officer Dr Pravin Gantawar and advisory committee constituted to probe patients’ complaint, the HC had warned civic officials that they will have to pay a fine of Rs50,000 per day if they failed to unseal equipment seized from hospital.
The HC division bench comprising justices Ravi Deshpande and Anil Kilor observed that they failed to understand Dr Gantawar’s active participation and stoic silence by appropriate authority, except performing empty formalities of signing papers placed by him before it.
“An FIR was lodged by hospital staffer Satish Tharwani on July 7 accusing the complainant and a group, led by Sahil Syed and Gantawar. It provides a clue regarding the existence of their relationship and motive behind activities and actions,” the HC bench said.
“What we find is that Gantawar’s entire conduct reflects high probability of bias and a hidden motive inconsistent with the fair performance of his duties, creating an impression that something has gone wrong of nature and degree, which requires HC’s intervention,” the judges added.