Orissa High Court: A Division Bench of S. Muralidhar and S. Panda, JJ., disposed of the writ petition directing the government to take appropriate steps regarding the prayer sought.
The present writ petition in the nature of Public Interest Litigation has been filed by the Petitioners with a prayer to direct the Opposite Parties to provide healthcare facilities to the Scheduled Tribe community residing in Sukinda Chromites Valley area in the district of Jajpur and for allocation of fund from District Mineral Foundation, Jajpur for that purpose.
Counsel for the advocate submitted that the Collector and Managing Trustee, District Mineral Foundation Trust, Jajpur has written a letter to the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Odisha on 10th October, 2018 stating that two PHCs i.e. one at Kaliapani of Sukinda Block and another at Tomaka at Danagadi Block are highly essential as there is no access to primary healthcare facility in the Chrome Valley between Tomka to Mangalpur and the Trust Board has already given consent in its meeting held on 1st September, 2018 to open these two PHCs. Therefore, necessary permission be given to open these two PHCs in these two locations. The infrastructure cost and other expenses on staff etc. for the said projects can be met out from the District Mineral Foundation Fund, Jajpur.
The Court thus held “In view of the above, this Court disposes of this writ petition with a direction that the Government – Opposite Party No.2 shall take appropriate action in terms of the above letter dated 10th October, 2018 not later than six months from today. It will be open to the Petitioners, if the above time line is not adhered to, to revive the matter for appropriate directions.”[Renuka Dehury v. State of Odisha, 2021 SCC OnLine Ori 42, decided on 12-01-2021]
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