Jairam Thakur Welcomes High Court Intervention, Targets Sukhu Government Over ‘Anti-People Decisions’
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Mandi, May 21: Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur on Wednesday welcomed the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s intervention in matters related to decisions of the state government, alleging that the Sukhu-led Congress government has repeatedly taken “anti-people and unconstitutional” decisions.
In a statement issued from Mandi, Jairam Thakur accused the state government of attempting to shield corruption and harass common people, particularly poor patients dependent on government healthcare facilities.
Referring to media reports regarding revised food charges at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, the BJP leader claimed that meal charges for admitted patients had been increased from ₹14 to ₹50 per day, while the quantity of milk provided to patients had also been reduced. He alleged that outsourcing the hospital mess system would place an additional financial burden on poor and middle-class families coming from remote districts such as Kinnaur, Chamba, Sirmaur, Kullu and Mandi.
He said a patient admitted for a month would now have to spend nearly ₹1,500 on meals instead of ₹420 earlier, adding that such decisions expose weaknesses in the state’s public healthcare system.
Jairam Thakur also criticised the state government over the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s interim stay on the March 12 notification exempting the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau from the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. He termed the court’s intervention a setback for the government’s alleged attempts to suppress information and shield irregularities.
The Leader of Opposition further referred to the ongoing legal challenge regarding the appointment of an officer as Chief Secretary despite alleged vigilance-related cases, stating that the High Court had sought replies from the state government and other authorities in the matter.
Accusing the Congress government of repeatedly taking decisions lacking legal and constitutional basis, he claimed that the judiciary has had to intervene frequently to halt such actions.
Jairam Thakur said the people of Himachal Pradesh are closely observing the functioning of the government and asserted that the High Court’s interventions reflected the importance of transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
