Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Monday sought to know the stand of the governments of AP and TS on a PIL seeking to prevent the illegal, unethical and exploitative medical practices being committed by corporate hospitals and nursing homes in the two states.
A division bench comprising Justice V. Ramasubramanian and Justice J. Uma Devi was hearing the PIL by Narender Kazipeta, whose sister T. Sunitha had died due to alleged negligence by Care Hospitals.
Counsel for the petitioner informed the bench that after filing of the PIL, the TS Medical Council took action against six doctors, including orthopaedic surgeon Dr Chandra Bhushan, who is the respondent in this case, for indulging in unethical practices.
Counsel also informed the court that orthopaedic surgeon of Global Hospitals who had performed the ‘height increasing surgery’ on a young software professional, Nikhil Reddy, was suspended by the State Medical Council for two years for indulging in unethical practices.
Counsel urged the court to direct the respondent governments to initiate action against corporate hospitals and doctors indulging in unethical medical practices.
Accordingly, the bench directed the two governments to file affidavits explaining their stand on the PIL within three weeks. The case was adjourned to February 13.
HC told no service tax on liquor for now HC told
The Hyderabad High Court on Monday asked the Central Board of Excise and Customs to clarify its stand within a week on collecting 15 per cent service tax on licence fee from retail liquor traders in TS and AP.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Shameem Akhter was hearing a batch of petitions by retail wine dealers from both the states challenging the circular issued by the Board on April 13, 2016 directing the two states to collect 15 per cent as service tax from each retail liquor outlet.
M.V.J. Kumar, counsel for the Central Board of Excise and Customs, told the court that no tax will be collected from the petitioners without assessment being completed.
He said that the issue was in a premature stage and the petitions against a premature action cannot be maintainable.
The bench told counsel to get instructions from the Board and clarify on the issue of imposition of tax by the next date of hearing.
Society allowed to take away property
The Hyderabad High Court on Monday directed the TS Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society to allow Balaji Mixed Fabrics and Handloom Weavers Cooperative Production and Sales Society to take away two cars and six looms in three days from the office located in Narayanaguda.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Shameem Akhter was dealing with an appeal by the Balaji Society challenging the sealing of the premises by the Telangana Society authorities and not allowing them to taking away their cars and looms.
Counsel for appellant told the court that the AP Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society was listed in the 9th Schedule of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 and its assets and liabilities are to be distributed between TS and AP.
Counsel said in pendency of the division, the TS authorities have sealed the premises of the APCO at Narayanaguda and taken over its possession. Special counsel appearing for TS submitted that the authorities will hand over the property.
