Kolkata, 04 August (H.S.) : The Calcutta High Court has granted significant relief to the West Bengal government by allowing the implementation of the revised meal allowance for patients admitted to government hospitals. A Division Bench on Tuesday set aside the interim stay imposed by a Single Bench, paving the way for the enhanced meal expenditure to take effect from August 1.

The Division Bench comprising Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Ajay Gupta overturned the earlier order that had restrained the state government from implementing its decision. With the stay vacated, there is no longer any legal obstacle to enforcing the revised meal allocation in government hospitals.

The state government had decided to increase the per-patient food expenditure from ₹57 to ₹112 with the objective of providing better quality meals to patients. A notification to this effect was issued on July 23, with implementation scheduled from August 1.

The decision, however, was challenged before the Calcutta High Court by an organisation questioning the government's tender process. The petitioner argued that since the issue relating to the determination of the per-patient meal cost was already pending before the court, the government could not introduce a revised rate.

Acting on the petition, Justice Krishna Rao of the Single Bench had granted an interim stay on the state's decision, leading to the legal dispute.

The West Bengal government subsequently challenged the stay order before the Division Bench. During Tuesday's hearing, Justice Shampa Sarkar observed that price indices had risen over time and remarked that if every fresh policy decision were stayed in this manner, it would become difficult for the state government to take policy decisions.

Following the hearing, the Division Bench vacated the Single Bench's interim order, thereby clearing the way for the implementation of the revised meal allowance for patients in government hospitals across the state.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh