PIL in J&K High Court seeks Govt response to poor implementation
The High Court in J&K has sought response from the Government of India and the state government in a Public interest litigation (PIL) seeking implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna scheme, meant to provide generic medicines at affordable prices.
The court’s division bench comprising Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice Tashi Rabstan issued notices in response to the PIL moved by Muzaffar Hussain Bhat of Ichgam in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, through his counsel Mohsin Qadri.
The PIL stated that the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna has been implemented in most of the states of the country except Jammu and Kashmir.
It informed the court that the Prime Minister’s office, taking serious note of non- implementation of the scheme, has issued notice to the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Government in the recent past.
“More than 2 years have passed since the scheme was relaunched. But, it is yet to see the light of day in Jammu & Kashmir,” the petition stated.
It said there were a few eligible aspirants, particularly in the year 2017, who had submitted their application for opening Janaushadhi medical stores in government hospitals in J&K, and the applications were submitted to the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India, but nothing had been done so far.
“The State Government seems to have given a deaf ear to the implementation (of the scheme) and to do and perform such acts which are required to be done by the functionaries of the state,” the petition said.
The petitioner pleaded that in case the relief prayed for in this application was not granted, the people in J&K would suffer irreparable loss.
