HC reconstitutes panel to probe allegations against hosp dean

The Bombay High Court today approved re-constitution of a seven-member grievances redressal committee headed by retired high court Judge V C Daga to probe allegations of Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) against dean of state-run J.J Hospital Dr T P Lahane for not allowing doctors to perform surgeries.
The panel would also go into various other issues concerning the doctors affiliated to MARD and the demand made by doctors regarding transfer of Dr Lahane.
A division bench, headed by Justice Abhay Oka, approved the name of Justice (retd) V C Daga as the head of the committee after it was suggested by the acting Advocate General Rohit Dev on the instructions of the state government.

The HC asked the panel to file a report by June 23 on its probe into the issues raised by MARD.
In another development, the bench also asked MARD to file an affidavit declaring its stand on the strike resorted to by the doctors recently to demand the transfer of Lahane.
The HC was of the opinion that the strike resorted to by doctors was not in public interest because patients suffered due to their agitation and some of them also died because of non-availability of medical services.

The indefinite strike seeking Lahane's transfer was withdrawn by doctors on April 9 on a suggestion of the HC which assured them that it would set up a grievances committee.

Accordingly, the court asked the government to reconstitute the panel by naming a retired HC judge to head it and also directed Dr Lahane to withdraw from this panel in view of allegations levelled against him.
The court was hearing a petition filed by activist Afak Mandaviya challenging the doctors' strike saying that patients were facing inconvenience and some of them died as there was no one to provide medical help in emergency cases.
Dr Lahane intervened in the matter last week through his lawyer Swapna Kode urging that he may be heard in the matter.