The Orissa High Court today concluded hearing on a PIL which had sought to quash a SCB Medical College and Hospital circular restricting the entry of media representatives inside the hospital campus.
Hearing the arguments of the petitioner and the respondents, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Amitava Roy and Justice B R Sarangi reserved its judgement, informed the petitioner's counsel Nishikant Mishra.
The hospital authorities in June last year had issued a circular stating that the representatives of both electronic and print media should only be allowed to enter inside the hospital premises for covering news after obtaining permission from the hospital superintendent.
Terming the order as "unconstitutional", Mishra in his petition had alleged this was an attempt to suppress the gross unprofessional conduct of the hospital mandarins.
Contesting the petition, the hospital authorities had justified the gag order on journalists.
In an affidavit, the hospital superintendent had told the High Court that the restrictions were imposed upon the media as a remedial measure for smooth management of the hospital and to provide better healthcare to patients.
