Delhi HC Issues Notice to Health Ministry Over RML College Building
Delhi High Court issues notice to Health Ministry Secretary over alleged non-compliance regarding the RML Medical College building construction.
The Delhi High Court has stepped in regarding the stalled construction of the permanent medical college building at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital. On Monday, the court issued a formal notice to the Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, following a contempt petition that alleges authorities have ignored previous judicial orders.
Allegations of Non-Compliance
The contempt petition was brought forward by the civil rights group, Social Jurist. The group claims that the relevant authorities have failed to follow a Division Bench order issued on July 22, 2026. That specific order had instructed officials to review a representation dated June 22, 2026, and to take necessary legal actions "with expedition." Crucially, the court had also mandated that any decision made must be communicated to the petitioner.
According to the legal filings, despite the court's intervention, no decision has been shared with the group, and the construction project remains at a standstill.
The ₹472 Crore Funding Mystery
One of the most striking details in the petition involves the financial status of the project. Advocate Ashok Agarwal, representing Social Jurist, highlighted a significant discrepancy between approved funding and actual progress on the ground:
- Sanctioned Amount: ₹472.96 crore was approved by the Government of India on February 17, 2024.
- Current Status: Despite this massive fund allocation, construction work has reportedly not yet commenced at the project site.
- RTI Evidence: The petitioner points to an RTI response dated June 13, 2026, which confirmed that no construction activity had started on the medical college building.
Internal Ministry Communications Revealed
The contempt plea provides an inside look at the administrative trail. The petitioner alleges that after the High Court's July order, they sent follow-up communications on July 24 and August 14, 2026, to demand compliance.
The petition cites an email trail indicating that on August 14, Health Ministry Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava forwarded these communications to Joint Secretaries Vijay Nehra and Ghulam Mustafa with the instruction, “For necessary action.” While the matter was reportedly moved to the Ministry’s Legal Cell and then to the concerned section, the petitioner maintains that no formal decision or construction progress has materialized.
Court Directions and Next Steps
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna has now demanded accountability from the Ministry. The court has directed the respondents to:
- File a formal compliance report within four weeks.
- Place the report on the official record for judicial review.
The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on January 6, 2027. While the contempt petition contains serious allegations from the petitioner, the respondents have yet to file their official response to the court's notice.