HC closes PIL, orders hassle-free movement of ambulances

Srinagar, Oct 31: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh Thursday directed the Chief Secretaries (CS) and Director Generals of Police (DGP) of the two Union Territories to work out a mechanism in consultation with the Health Department for hassle-free movement of ambulances.

A division bench of Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Puneet Gupta issued the direction while closing a related Public Interest Litigation (PIL)

The PIL  filed by an NGO, White Globe in 2018 through senior Advocate Syed Faisal Qadri was seeking intervention for the upgradation of basic structures of the ambulance as per European standards and importantly enduring coordination between different government departments particularly the Traffic Department and Health Department for hassle-free movement and passage of ambulances and saving precious lives.

In April 2023, the High Court appointed the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir as the ‘Nodal Officer’ for filing the report regarding the upgradation of basic structures of ambulances and for ensuring their hassle-free passage in Kashmir Valley.

The nodal officer was appointed in response to the suggestions by the Advocate General that given the involvement of various departments, it would be appropriate to have a nodal officer who would give a consistent view on behalf of the various agencies before the court.

Subsequently, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on the basis of the inputs received from various departments including the office of the Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), J&K, Director Health Services Kashmir and Regional Transport Officer, Kashmir, filed a comprehensive affidavit on February 22 this year before the court.

The court noted that based on the report of the Divisional Commissioner, the Mission Director National Health Mission, J&K, has undertaken an initiative of J&K Emergency Medical Services under Public Private Partnership (PPP Mode) since March 24, 2020, with BVG India Pvt Limited.

The court also pointed out that as per the report of the Directorate of Health Services. Kashmir, as of now the Directorate is providing services of 71 (number) of Advanced Life Support Ambulances (ALS) and the fleet of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) comprising 64 ALS (Advanced Life Support and 31 Basic Life Support (BLS) Ambulances are fully equipped with the Life Equipment and Drugs as per the National Ambulance Code and its services can be availed by the general public through 108 Toll-Free number and the fleet is GPS enabled.

After perusing the affidavit filed by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, the court underscored that most of the departments had already taken note of the grievances put forth in the present PIL and have taken appropriate actions to reduce the same.

While the court, accordingly said, there was no need to have the present petition pending, it disposed of the same by directing the Chief Secretaries and DGPs of both the union territories to devise a mechanism in consultation with the Health Department for hassle-free movement of ambulances.