HC Expressed Disinclination in the Plea Challenging the Shift of OGH

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Tuesday was not inclined to interfere with the policy decision of the state government to shift the Osmania General Hospital (OGH) to a site currently housing the Goshamahal police stadium. However, the court directed Advocate-General A. Sudarshan Reddy what the government’s stand was on the petition with regard to the decision to shift the hospital.

Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy was dealing with a petition filed by Munukuntla Anand Goud, resident of Gowliguda, who challenged the decision to shift the OGH and expressed the worry that the relocation would cause hardships to the residents in Goshamahal.

Justice Reddy observed that the courts could not interfere with policy decisions taken by the government and opined that the government had the power to shift the OGH to provide better facilities to the people. The judge also pointed out that the High Court, currently housed in a 100-year-old building, would be shifted to a new location to provide better facilities.

Further, the judge raised an objection on the of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy as the respondent in the petition, and asked the petitioner;s counsel as to on what grounds this was done. The court directed the petitioner to delete the name of Revanth Reddy from the respondents list.

The judge inquired with the Advocate-General as to whether any building was readily available to shift the hospital and for the proposals to house such a big institution in the new place. The court directed the A-G to submit the government’s instructions by February 18.