Salary of Principal Secretary to be withheld till MRI machine is installed in DIMHANS: Karnataka High Court

In a special order the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday said that the remuneration of the Principal Secretary in the Health and Family Welfare (Medical Education) Department of the State be withheld until Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (DIMHANS) gets an MRI machine installed and made operational.

A Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice SR Krishna Kumar noted that two years back, court had given a period of  six weeks time to initiate steps to procure the machine but the same was not operational yet.

“On March 5, 2020, the Court had directed the State Government to take immediate steps for procuring an MRI machine of requisite specification for the use of DIMHANS. Six weeks time was granted. Again and again time has been granted by the court but the MRI machine has not been made available. This also reflects the intention of the authorities in not getting the machine installed. We do not appreciate the conduct of the officers concerned” 

-the Court said.

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The Court was informed by the State that although the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan machine (MRI machine) had been delivered to DIMHANS,yet it was not operational.

The Bench expressed its displeasure over the unnecessary delays, noting that during the previous hearing the State had assured that the MRI machine would be made operational by March 30, which remains incomplete and also seems a dishonor of the court

 The Bench observed that the State had been directed to take immediate steps to procure and install the machine back in March 2020, but the matter is still under progress and has taken a considerable amount of time.

The Court remarked that it is very unfortunate that the officials who are concerned with the public problems have lost their sensitivity

The Court, as a matter of public interest has withheld the salary of the Principal Secretary, Medical Education until the MRI machine is installed and made operational.

The matter will be heard next on April 21.

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