High Court directs police to take action over disruptive activities at PGIMER

In response to a petition filed by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a directive to the Senior Superintendent of Police of UT to apprehend individuals found causing disturbance or engaging in activities outside their official duties, citing contempt of court.

Justice Rajbir Sehrawat emphasized the significance of PGIMER as a premier health institute, expressing concern that the lives of hundreds of indoor and thousands of outdoor patients could be at risk due to disruptions. The court instructed the Senior Superintendent of Police to take preventive custody of any person involved in such activities and, if deemed necessary, to file appropriate charges under criminal law.

The court’s decision follows a recent petition highlighting the formation of fresh unions to circumvent previous court orders aimed at ensuring the smooth functioning of PGIMER. The petitioner argued that contract employees, influenced by Ashwani Kumar Munjal, Chairman of the Joint Action Committee of PGI Contract Workers Union, were causing hindrances in the institute’s operations.

Notably, the court had previously emphasized that unions must adhere to earlier directives to safeguard the institute’s functioning. The petitioner’s counsel, Amit Jhanji, pointed out that the High Court had consistently issued orders to prevent disruptions caused by contract employees and that the formation of new unions was an attempt to bypass these directives.

Furthermore, the court had previously directed, through a Single Judge order dated June 23, 2020, that individuals involved in strikes or hunger strikes could be immediately arrested and sent to civil imprisonment.

The court’s notice of motion stated that respondents must comply with earlier directions, and in case of violations, effective legal measures could be taken to prevent any disruption to PGIMER’s functioning. The court also restricted Ashwani Kumar Munjal from entering the institute’s premises until further orders, citing his apparent involvement in leading employees in front of the administrative block.