The observations were made during the resumed hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a social activist Amarjit Kaur Dhillon.

The petitioner had sought modification in the licensing policy to open chemist shops in PGIMER in such a manner so as to facilitate the availability of medicines to the underprivileged at the most competitive price, as compared to shops located outside PGIMER.

Unimpressed by the measures taken by the PGI to increase the discount rate on MRP from 5 per cent to 30 per cent, the Bench urged for a more credible system. “Most people who come to the PGI are illiterate. Do you think that a poor patient has time to haggle with a shopkeeper and file a complaint if the shopkeeper is not giving discount? To say that the system at present is perfect is not correct,” observed the chief justice.

Further expressing his displeasure over the condition of the underprivileged patients in hospitals, the chief justice said: “Conditions in hospitals are pathetic. You need to do something more in this regard. We are ready to call all those people who are not co-operating.” The Bench also strongly deplored red-tapism in the government.