PIL filed in Delhi HC to operationalize the Rs 400 crore super specialty block of RML Hospital. According to the petition, due to closure of the block, thousands of patients are deprived of 666 additional beds and specialized treatment facilities and public money is being wasted.
New Delhi [भारत]July 14 (ANI): A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court, in which the Central government and Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS)-Dr. A demand has been made to direct Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital to immediately operationalize the newly constructed Super Specialty Block (SSB). It has been alleged in the petition that despite the construction of huge infrastructure at a cost of about Rs 400 crore, this facility is still closed.
This petition has been filed by ‘Social Jurist, a civil rights group’ through lawyers Ashok Aggarwal and Kumar Utkarsh. It said the long delay in operationalizing the block has deprived thousands of patients of specialized healthcare facilities and additional bed capacity, while also resulting in wastage of public money.
Facility of 666 beds and 18 operation theaters
According to the PIL, the Super Specialty Block was envisioned to significantly enhance the public health infrastructure at RML Hospital. With this, the number of beds in the hospital will increase from approximately 1,532 to 2,198, i.e. an increase of approximately 666 beds. In addition, a dedicated oncology department equipped with 18 operation theatres, advanced diagnostic facilities and PET-CT facility will also be available.
The petitioner states that although the infrastructure is largely complete, the facility has not been made operational due to pending regulatory and administrative approvals.
Problems increased due to delay in regulatory approvals
The petition alleges that due to this delay, the health infrastructure built with taxpayers’ money is not being utilized continuously, while government hospitals continue to be overcrowded, lacking beds and increasing demand for specialized treatment. It argues that every day of delay adversely impacts patients who depend on government hospitals for affordable healthcare.
These arguments given in the petition
Citing a Times of India report published on April 10, 2026, the petitioner said that despite the expenditure incurred on the project, the Super Specialty Block has been lying closed for more than a year.
The petition further states that a representation was made to the authorities on June 22, 2026, requesting immediate rectification of the deficiencies and completion of all statutory formalities, but it is alleged that no effective action was taken on this. The petition argues that this inaction is a violation of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, as it denies access to timely healthcare and leaves a major public health facility inactive despite huge public investment. It also relies on the decision of the Supreme Court in the case Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samiti vs. State of West Bengal, which had recognized the constitutional obligation of the State to provide adequate medical facilities to the citizens.
These demands were made in the petition
In its prayers, the PIL has sought a direction to the respondents to remove all regulatory deficiencies, obtain completion certificate, no objection certificate and other statutory approvals and fully commission the super specialty block within a time bound period.
It also demanded that health services be started immediately in the block and necessary medical, nursing, technical and support staff deployed so that additional health infrastructure can be utilized without any further delay.
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