HC asks Telangana govt to respond to plea against shifting Osmania Hospital to Goshamahal stadium

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court sent notices to the State government asking them to respond to a plea to restrain the government from constructing Osmania General Hospital (OGH) at the place where the Goshamahal Police Stadium stands now.

What is the opposition to OGH's relocation?

The Division Bench was adjudicating a PIL filed by Gundolu Ramu, a yoga trainer and social worker and a resident of Goshamahal. The petitioner challenged the decision of the Telangana Government in shifting the Osmania General Hospital to the Goshamahal Police Stadium, as this decision exposes the residents in the vicinity of the stadium to hardship, inconvenience and exposure to environmental hazards, in violation of Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

During the earlier arguments, the State government informed the court that it is the policy decision of the Telangana Government to shift the OGH to the Goshamahal Police Stadium with an intention to extend the best medical aid to its citizens.

Moreover, the existing Osmania General Hospital is more than 110 years old, and most of the hospital premises have reached a dilapidated condition, and the Government intends to construct a hospital with modern facilities.

The petitioner sought a direction to the Telangana Government not to undertake any construction activities at the Goshamahal stadium and to suspend the operation of GO 45 issued in this regard.

Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara on Friday issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretaries to the Government, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Home Department, Health Medical and Family Welfare Department, Youth Advancement and Tourism and Culture Department, Revenue Department, Special Chief Secretary, Roads and Buildings, Special CS, Finance, District Collector, Hyderabad, Commissioner, GHMC, Commissioner HMDA, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, Director, Medical and Health, Managing Director, Telangana Medical Service Infrastructure Development Corporation and the Chief Engineer, R&B directing them to respond to the notices within four weeks.

The case was adjourned for four weeks.