Moved by the plight and denial of treatment to a bed-ridden haemophiliac man, the Delhi High Court directed the Health Secretary to appear in person and apprise it of actions taken by the city government.
"I cannot keep this petition pending. He is bleeding on daily basis. Let the Health Secretary appear in person at 2.30 pm on next Thursday," Justice Manmohan said.
The bench rejected the plea of Delhi government's counsel that the senior official be not summoned for the time being and she should be given a chance to speak to authorities concerned first to inquire about the status of the case.
"Till date no medical board has been constituted. This is not the matter which should be kept pending. Let him come," it said.
Thirty-six-year-old Amit Ahuja, through lawyer Gurmit Singh Hans, has moved the court seeking a direction to Centre, Delhi Government and Medical Superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital that he be treated for haemophilia.
Haemophilia is a hereditary genetic disorder which impairs ability to control blood clotting in the event of bleeding.
Ahuja, who has been suffering since 1978, has developed a wound in his right hip joint in 2010 and now the wound has turned into a "pseudo tumour with sensory polyneuropathy".
His left leg was amputated in 1997 when due to non clotting of blood a minor bruise turned into gangrene and the doctors had to amputate the limb, the plea said.
The treatment, which nearly costs Rs one lakh a day, has led to a situation where his family has run out of money, the plea said, adding that he was given treatment for five days at the hospital.
However, the treatment has now been stopped, it said.
The court has earlier asked the Delhi government to constitute a medical board to examine Ahuja and come out with the action plan.
