The Bombay High Court has directed Palghar’s superintendent of police to appear personally and explain the action taken against those accused of creating a disturbance and allegedly abusing doctors and staff at a private hospital in Palghar city. The direction was issued during a hearing on Tuesday, a day after the Palghar Doctors’ Association approached the court over the incident.
The case relates to an altercation at Relief Hospital on Saturday involving relatives and supporters of members of a Govinda troupe who were receiving treatment after injuries sustained during a Dahi Handi celebration. According to the hospital’s police complaint, the dispute began after doctors advised a patient with head and spinal injuries to undergo a CT scan and further treatment.
The hospital reportedly told the family that the treatment cost would be about Rs 20,000, of which Rs 10,000 had been deposited by organisers. A disagreement then developed over the patient’s discharge and the need for the CT scan. Hospital officials said that when doctors explained the medical reasons for the examination, Shiv Sena office-bearers and supporters entered the hospital and allegedly argued with and abused doctors and employees.
The complaint names Shiv Sena district chief Kundan Sankhe, city chief Rahul Gharat and Rohit Gavit, the son of an MLA, among 17 people. The report does not establish the outcome of any criminal investigation or whether charges have been formally framed against the named individuals.
Senior advocate Ashok Mundargi told a bench comprising Justices Ajay Gadkari and Kamal Khata that doctors had allegedly been abused and threatened. He also told the court that pressure was being exerted on local police to register a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The court took note of the submission and compared the matter with an earlier incident at a municipal hospital in Dombivli.
During the hearing, the court asked the government whether it had received a copy of the petition. The government advocate said the petition had been received on Monday but that the police had not provided information about the action taken. The government also indicated that the matter would be argued by the chief public prosecutor.
The court has directed the Palghar superintendent of police to remain present on Wednesday and provide details of the police response. The hearing is expected to clarify what action has been taken in the case and whether the authorities have registered or pursued offences based on the hospital’s complaint.
