Mumbai: The state government Friday informed the Bombay high court that it has sanctioned '24 crore as aid to the Wadia Hospital. The BMC also informed the court that it has sanctioned '14 crore to the hospital. However, the high court rapped the state and the BMC yet again for their apathy towards the hospital.
The court said that officers of the state and BMC had remained absent during board meetings. “There is pressure on public health services and charitable trusts like Wadia are helping you, but the state and BMC seem to not be serious,” it observed.
A division bench of Justices S.C. Dharmadhikari and R.I. Chagla was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the release of grants to Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children and Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity Hospital by the BMC and state government. As per the rules, the maternity hospital gets grants from the state government, while the children’s hospital gets grants from the BMC.
The BMC told the court that the claims made by the hospital lack substance and that the same need to be verified. To this, Justice Dharmadhikari said that partners don’t need verification. “If you think the bills are illegitimate, people are drawing double salary. Withdraw from the partnership,” he said.
The court also asked why the issue of overpayment and financial irregularity was not raised earlier. Pointing out that the civic body has released about '45 crore over a period of time, the Judge said, “If there was large-scale irregularity, you shouldn’t have released the funds. What did you do in the board meeting as you were part of the management... If you want an inquiry… there will be an independent inquiry against your officers (BMC) too,” Justice Dharmadhikari said.
He further said that if these are the discrepancies, nobody will come forward for philanthropic activity and the BMC still wants strategic partners every day. After the state government also raised doubts over the hospital accounts, the HC asked all three stakeholders to convene a special meet to sort out issues.
