Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Thursday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that alleged a young woman from the SC (Budagajangam) community was denied access to the '108' ambulance service and medical treatment because she did not possess an Aadhaar card. The court held that official records demonstrated she received repeated emergency care after a snakebite before succumbing during transfer to Gandhi Hospital.
Court's Observations
Calling the incident 'tragic', a bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin stated that after examining official records and the state's counter-affidavit, it was satisfied that medical services were not denied due to the lack of Aadhaar. The woman was attended to immediately through the 108 ambulance service, the court noted.
State's Submission
During the hearing, state counsels informed the court that ambulance services were never refused to the woman because of the absence of Aadhaar. They emphasized that the same policy is followed across the state in providing ambulance and medicare services. The counsels presented a detailed timeline of events from the moment the woman suffered the snakebite, contacted 108, and was shifted first to a nearby community health centre, then to a district hospital, and later referred to Gandhi Hospital for advanced treatment.
- The ambulance reached her residence within 12 minutes of the distress call.
- Emergency treatment was administered by the onboard team while shifting her to the community health centre.
- Further treatment was provided at the health centre and district hospital without asking for her Aadhaar card.
Incident Details
While shifting her to Gandhi Hospital, she succumbed to the snakebite, state counsel informed the court. The counsel further submitted that the ambulance reached her residence within 12 minutes of the distress call and emergency treatment was administered by the onboard team while shifting her to the community health centre. Further treatment was also provided at the health centre and district hospital without asking for her Aadhaar card, he added.
The court, after perusing the records, found no merit in the PIL and dismissed it. The bench expressed satisfaction that the state's response demonstrated no negligence or denial of services based on Aadhaar. The judgment underscores the importance of verifying facts before filing PILs, especially in sensitive matters involving medical emergencies.
