Madras High Court directs authorities to decide dual lung allocation for critically ill patient in 3 days
Dual lung transplant: Justice P T Asha was hearing a petition filed by one Rajni Singh seeking a direction to the state and Centre to accord priority consideration for allocation of a dual lung to her husband within three days.
3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jan 13, 2026 03:43 PM IST
Madras High Court News: Without delving into the merits of the medical assessment or the transplant allocation policy, the Madras High Court took note of the critical condition of the patient and the urgency involved. (Image generated using AI)
Madras High Court News: The Madras High Court recently directed the national and state organ transplant authorities to urgently consider a request for priority allocation of a dual-lung transplant to a critically ill patient, observing that the matter involved an imminent threat to life.
The January 9 order said, “Considering the critical condition of the petitioner’s husband, a direction is issued to the respondents 1 (NOTTO) and 2 (TRANSTAN) to consider the request of the petitioner, which has been forwarded as early on 01.01.2026 to give priority as and when an organ is available for transplant and to take decision on the same within a period of three working days from today.”
The Madras High Court directed NOTTO and TRANSTAN to consider the petitioner’s request for priority allocation “positively” and to take a decision within three working days. (Image enhanced using AI)
Findings
NOTTO and TRANSTAN directed to consider the request of the wife and should act positively on the issue.
They have to take a decision within three working days from the date of the order.
The request forwarded on January 1, 2026 must be duly considered at the earliest opportunity when an organ becomes available.
Background
Singh sought a direction for the allocation of a dual lung to her husband, who is presently admitted at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, where he is undergoing treatment for severe lung disease.
His condition was stated to have deteriorated to a critical stage, requiring immediate transplantation to save his life.
Advocate N S Tanvi, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that despite a detailed communication sent to NOTTO as early as January 1, 2026, highlighting the life-threatening condition of the patient and seeking urgent intervention, no prompt action had been taken by the authorities.
The counsel contended that the delay in decision-making could have irreversible consequences, given the progressive nature of the illness and the narrow window available for a successful lung transplant.
The petitioner urged the court to intervene to ensure that her husband’s case was considered on a priority basis as and when a suitable organ became available.
Vineet Upadhyay is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, where he leads specialized coverage of the Indian judicial system.
Expertise
Specialized Legal Authority: Vineet has spent the better part of his career analyzing the intricacies of the law. His expertise lies in "demystifying" judgments from the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts, and District Courts. His reporting covers a vast spectrum of legal issues, including:
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The Madras High Court directed NOTTO and TRANSTAN to consider the petitioner’s request for priority allocation “positively” and to take a decision within three working days. (Image enhanced using AI)
