Flouting HC order, Bihar health dept engages consortium for lab tests

The Bihar health department, in brazen violation of Patna high court (HC) order, continues to avail the pathological services of a consortium of Gurugram-based Hindustan Wellness and Delhi-based Dr. Khanna Pathlab, an investigation by the Hindustan Times revealed on Thursday.

- Ruchir Kumar

PATNA:

A division bench of the Patna high court had on January 24 put a stay on the execution of the contract and directed the executive director (ED) of the State Health Society, Bihar (SHSB), an arm of the Bihar health department, "to not to precipitate the matter till the next date of hearing".

The bench, in its next hearing on February 5, extended its interim direction of January 24, regarding the stay, till the final disposal of the case, before it cancelled the contract of the consortium on March 24.

However, two months since the HC put a stay, and three days after it annulled the contract awarded to the consortium, the SHSB continues to avail itself of the pathological services of the consortium it awarded the contract to on November 19 last year.