Ranchi (IANS): The Jharkhand High Court has expressed strong displeasure over the lack of proper biomedical waste disposal arrangements at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, the largest government-run medical college and hospital in Jharkhand.
Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Jharkhand Human Rights Confederation, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar on Monday voiced dissatisfaction with the response submitted by RIMS authorities.
The Bench observed that RIMS had failed to comply with earlier court directions on the scientific and lawful disposal of biomedical waste, despite repeated reminders. Taking serious note of the lapse, the court directed the RIMS Director to file a comprehensive affidavit detailing the steps taken so far to complete the tender process for biomedical waste disposal management.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on February 2.
During the proceedings, the petitioner informed the court that the tender for biomedical waste disposal at RIMS had still not been finalised. In response, RIMS authorities submitted that the tender process is underway and that a fresh tender has been floated, inviting participation from eligible agencies.
RIMS also informed the court of its proposal to establish an integrated waste management system within the hospital campus, covering biomedical waste, solid waste and dry waste. However, the court remained unconvinced, noting that concrete action on the ground was yet to be seen.
Earlier, the High Court had taken strong exception to the indiscriminate dumping of waste inside the RIMS campus and had sought a detailed status report on the existing waste disposal mechanism.
In the PIL, the petitioner has sought strict enforcement of the Biomedical Waste Management Rules framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, stressing that biomedical waste generated by hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes across Jharkhand must be handled and disposed of strictly in accordance with statutory norms.
The petition further warned that failure to implement biomedical waste management and handling rules poses a serious threat to public health and the environment, and called for immediate corrective measures by the state authorities to prevent potential health hazards.
