The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently expressed shock over a recent power outage of 13 minutes at a hospital in Patiala district of Punjab [Sunaina vs State of Punjab and Others]..The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition related to a viral video showing power outage during a surgery at an emergency ward of Rajendra Hospital, Patiala in January this year."It is not surprising but shocking to note that in a public establishment like a hospital where electric breakup of even a few seconds can be fatal for certain patients, especially those on life support, the electric supply was disrupted for 13 minutes though the backup was available but the same took 2 minutes to be functional, because the same had to be operated manually," the Court said..In response to the PIL, the Court had earlier asked whether any backup for electric supply was available at the hospital .On January 6, the Court was told though there exists a backup at the hospital, there is no automatic switch-over system. The DG-set had to be started manually which took time, a report filed before the Court said..At this, the Court stressed that hospitals must have automatic switch-over from the normal electric supply line to DG-Set. The Court questioned the lack of the same and also took note of another instance of outage at the same hospital."Learned counsel for the State of Punjab is unable to satisfy us as to why this deficiency of automatic switch-over from the regular supply lines to the DG-Set was not available at the relevant point of time. Petitioner appearing in person has also submitted that recently again on 04.02.2025 another incident of power disruption took place.".In light of this, the Court proceeded to direct the Chief Secretary of the State of Punjab to file an affidavit on the issue."The affidavit of the Chief Secretary of the State of Punjab is directed to be filed in this respect, which should also contain details of other public establishments which are equipped with automatic switch-over and why not the hospitals," the order said. .It will hear the matter next on February 25. The PIL before the Court was moved by advocate Sunaina who appeared in person..Additional Advocates General Saurav Khurana and Anurag Chopra represented the State of Punjab. Advocates FS Dhilla and Gagneshwar Walia represented other respondents..[Read Order]
