HC seeks Punjab response on Kapurthala oxygen plant closure
The petitioner argued that these lapses amount to gross administrative negligence and a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the fundamental right to life
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After hearing the submissions, the High Court ordered the State of Punjab to seek specific instructions and posted the matter for further hearing on September 18 (Archive)The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday took cognizance of the ongoing crisis at Civil Hospital, Kapurthala, arising from the shutdown of its oxygen generation plant due to a shortage of trained technical staff. Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Sunaina, Advocate and Petitioner in Person, a Bench led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry directed the State of Punjab to seek instructions and address the matter.
Sunaina, contended that the non-operational oxygen plant at Kapurthala has endangered the lives of critical patients and points to a systemic failure in Punjab’s healthcare infrastructure. Noting that repeated written complaints by the hospital’s Senior Medical Officer and the administration to the Health Department had failed to result in deployment of trained staff, she emphasized that the hospital’s reliance on oxygen cylinders is neither sustainable nor reliable, especially in emergencies.
The PIL highlighted the urgency of the situation, invoking the tragic events at Jalandhar Civil Hospital recently, when the alleged failure of the hospital’s oxygen plant reportedly contributed to the death of three patients. The petitioner argued that these lapses amount to gross administrative negligence and a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the fundamental right to life.
Sunaina sought the Court’s intervention with a series of directions, including:
– Immediate operationalization of the Kapurthala oxygen plant with deployment of trained technical staff;
– A comprehensive, time-bound audit of oxygen generation plants across Punjab to assess functionality;
– Fixing accountability on officials responsible for lapses and ensuring systemic reforms throughout the state’s health department;
– Creation of a permanent policy mechanism for regular staffing, maintenance, and emergency repair of essential hospital infrastructure.
Arguing that installation of oxygen plants alone is not enough for emergency preparedness, Sunaina stated, “Maintenance and trained staff deployment are equally vital. The malfunctioning or shutdown of such critical infrastructure causes irreparable harm to patients, especially those in government hospitals serving the poor and marginalized.” She called the situation a recurring systemic failure, not an isolated incident, and urged for judicial oversight and long-term reforms.
After hearing the submissions, the High Court ordered the State of Punjab to seek specific instructions and posted the matter for further hearing on September 18. The Bench observed that lives of critical patients are “gravely endangered” and expressed concern over recurring administrative lapses.
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