High court ends 19-year battle for Punjab teacher denied full heart surgery claim: ‘Govt should be liberal’

The key legal issue before the Punjab and Haryana High Court was whether medical bills could be restricted to AIIMS rates when a government employee was referred to a private hospital in an emergency.

3 min readChandigarhUpdated: Jan 30, 2026 02:32 PM IST

The Punjab and Haryana High Court strongly criticised the 19-year delay in resolving the case, saying that the government school teacher's reimbursement claim should 'have been decided immediately'.(Express Photo of Punjab and Haryana High Court)

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a state government appeal, ending a 19-year legal battle over medical reimbursement and upholding the full claim of a government school teacher who underwent emergency heart surgery in 2002.

Justice Sudeepti Sharma, delivering the judgment on January 28, dismissed the regular second appeal filed by the State of Punjab and upheld a 2006 order of the district judge, Mansa, which had allowed Bhupinder Singh’s claim for reimbursement.

Singh, then a teacher at Government Elementary School, Phus Mandi, Mansa, had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery at Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre in New Delhi in November 2002. He incurred expenses of Rs 2,20,677 and Rs 11,000 during his admission from November 18 to 30 that year.

The court noted that Singh had been referred to the hospital through official channels after angiography revealed serious heart problems. Escorts Heart Institute was a recognised hospital for open heart surgery under a Punjab government letter issued in 1991, which also listed Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, and Apollo Hospital, Madras.

Honourable Chief Justice Mrs. Sudeepti Sharma. (Express Photo)

The key legal issue was whether medical bills could be restricted to AIIMS rates when a government employee was referred to a private hospital in an emergency. Justice Sharma ruled against such curtailment, holding that Singh was entitled to full reimbursement since the referral was made by the government and the hospital was recognised.

The judgment relied on documents showing that the referral came from the Punjab Health Systems Corporation due to the critical nature of the case. It also cited a 1995 government instruction clarifying that in life-threatening emergencies, prior approval from a medical board was not required.

Also Read | Things every heart patient should know before surgery

The court strongly criticised the prolonged delay in resolving the case. “Before parting, this court feels at pain to decide such kind of cases after almost 19 years, which should have been decided immediately since reimbursement is involved,” the judge said. “Since 2002, he is running for the reimbursement of the amount incurred by him in his treatment and it has taken almost 19 years to decide the same.”

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The court urged the government to adopt a more liberal approach in framing medical reimbursement policies, observing, “The government should be liberal in framing the policies for medical treatment and reimbursement since a person in pain is not expected to choose the hospital and would prefer the nearest one only.”

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More