Chattisgarh High Court
In The Matter Of Suo Moto Public Interest ... vs State Of Chhattisgarh on 8 April, 2026
1
HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
WPPIL No. 93 of 2023
In the Matter of Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation, regarding News Item
versus
State of Chhattisgarh & Others
Order Sheet
08/04/2026 This is an office reference.
Heard Ms. Surya Kawalkar Dangi and Mr. Apoorva
Tripathi, learned Court Commissioners. Also heard Mr. Praveen
Das, Additional Advocate General and Mr. Trivikram Nayak,
learned counsel for the respondent No. 9-CGMSC.
On the last date of hearing i.e. on 23.03.2026, this Court had directed the Managing Director, CGMSC to file his personal affidavit in compliance of which, an affidavit has been filed on 07.04.2026, the relevant portion of which is quoted hereinbelow:
"2. That it is submitted that in the matter pertaining to the procurement of medical equipments for CIMS, Bilaspur the present situation is as follows [for ease of reference a Tabular Chart About Current Progress in 2 Procurement of medical equipment for CIMS is being annexed herewith as ANNEXURE -A/1). a. For 5 category of medical equipments vis-à-vis Anesthesia Work Station Radiant Warmer Arterial ABG, ABG Machine & Li Analyser it is submitted that the GeM Tender No GEM/2025/8/7027986 dated 23/12/2025 was successful and Purchase Order for the same had been placed on 06/03/2026.
b. For 8 categories of medical equipments vis-à- vis Multiple syringe Infusion ECG Machine. Syringe infusion pump, Suction machine lec Volumetriusion pump Electrocautery machine DF with pacing and OT Light in the light of Rule 4.3.2 of the Chhattisgarh Government's Store Purchase Rules 2002 which provides for direct procurement from GeM Portal for value of products upto Rs. 5 Lakhs and accordingly Purchase Orders for procurement of the said 8 ategories of medical equipments through direct L-1 has been placed on 19/02/2026.
Furthermore it is submitted that out of the aforementioned 13 categories of medical equpments as on 06/04/2026 CIMS Blaspur has informed that a total of 10 categories of medical equipments have ready been delivered and supplied to them.
A Copy of relevant part of purchase orders for Medical Equipments is being annexed with herewith as ANNEXURE A/2.
c. For the remaining 18 categories of medical equipments their tender is in process and the detailed information is as follows-
i. For 9 category of medical equipments for which separate tenders had been issued for Equipment for cardiac Pacing (Temporary Pacemaker). Fiber optic 3 Bronchoscope. ENT OPERATING MICROSCOPE, Ultrasonography With Doppler. BSCAN EEG Machine Multipara Monitor, Anesthesia WORK STATION USG MACHINE WITH ECHO as far as their respective tenders are concerned the bids have been opened and at least 1 or in some tenders more than 1 bidders have participated (since this is not the 1" call for tender hence even if 1 bidder is found eligible the tender would be processed) and henceforth the respective tenders have proceeded further and at present is under technical evaluation stage and CGMSC is committed to process the same expeditiously and once the same is completed the respective tenders would proceed for financial evaluation.
ii. Now for 7 categories of medical equipments vis-à-vis Loupe with LED Light, Wet Field Bi-polar Cautery Cyclocryotherapy Machine. Hysteroscopy Simulator Harmonic Scalpel, Digital Spirometer and bipolar generator GeM Tender No GEM/2026/8/7382882 had been issued all these equipments are dealt in GeM portal under Bunch Bid/Custom BOQ approval and the said approval process takes time under the GeM portals mechanism and hence their tender will be opened only on 08/04/2026 due to GeM operational guidelines and system-based approval mechanism. Accordingly, the status of the same can be confirmed only after opening of the bids and their evaluation.
iii. For 1 Equipment Digital Video Colposcope with high frequency in GeM Bid No GEM Bid GEM/B/2026/8/7372750 the tender had been opened and it has been found that no bids have been received hence re-tender is proposed.
iv. For 1 category of medical equipments vis-à-vis Ventilator- it is still under tender vide GEM Bid GEM/2026/B/7410821 and the bid for 4 the said tender would be opened on 17/04/2026.
A copy of relevant part of tender documents pertaining to those categories of medical equipments of which tender is ongoing is in process is being annexed herewith as ANNEXURE A/3
3. That it is submitted that CGMSC is committed for expeditious procurement of medical equipments for the benefit of the citizenry and steps are being taken to ensure procurement in a time bound manner."
Recently, on 05.04.2026, a news item was published in various news papers including Hindi Daily, namely Dainik Bhaskar, with a heading "fcykliqj flEl vLirky esa vkx cq>kus dk ekdfMªy % bysfDVªd yksM esa c<ksrjh ds chp bejtsalh fjLikUl dh VsfLVax] Qk;j lsQ~Vh flLVe dh Hkh tkap" which related to a fire mock drill conducted on 04.04.2026 at Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (for short, the CIMS), Bilaspur with the objective of assessing preparedness for emergency situations. The drill was carried out on the second floor of the hospital, which is the largest healthcare facility in the Bilaspur Division. In light of the increasing electrical load and the potential risk of fire-related incidents, the exercise was undertaken by a joint team comprising the Municipal Corporation and the Fire Brigade. During the drill, the emergency response time was evaluated, and the hospital administration also reviewed its real-time capacity to manage and control fire emergencies. The functionality of the fire 5 safety systems, the alertness and responsiveness of personnel, and the coordination among various units were thoroughly assessed.
It is pertinent to note that the CIMS is situated in a densely populated and congested area, with narrow approach roads and heavy traffic movement. The situation is further aggravated by indiscriminate parking of vehicles around the boundary wall and even up to the main gate of the hospital campus. Such obstructions may prove hazardous during emergencies, as they can severely impede the movement of essential services, including ambulances and fire tenders.
In these circumstances, we deem it appropriate to direct the learned Court Commissioners to conduct an inspection of CIMS, Bilaspur, assess the prevailing conditions, and submit a detailed report before the next date of hearing.
Further, the District Administration, namely the Collector, the Municipal Commissioner, and the Superintendent of Police, Bilaspur, are directed to ensure that the area in and around the CIMS premises remains free from any form of obstruction. No unauthorized parking or encroachment by street vendors shall be permitted so as to facilitate unhindered access for emergency and rescue services in the event of any medical exigency or untoward incident, including fire outbreaks. 6
The authorities of CIMS as well as the District Administration shall extend full cooperation to the learned Court Commissioners in carrying out the aforesaid directions.
List this matter again on 05th May, 2026.
By the said date, the Managing Director, CGMSCL shall apprise this Court regarding the latest status of the tenders issued or under process. The learned Court Commissioners shall also submit their reports, along with any suggestions, before the next date of hearing.
Sd/- Sd/-
(Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) (Ramesh Sinha)
JUDGE CHIEF JUSTICE
Amit
AMIT
KUMAR
DUBEY
Digitally signed
by AMIT KUMAR
DUBEY
Date: 2026.04.10
18:49:29 +0530