3 min readMumbaiUpdated: Mar 25, 2026 10:08 PM IST
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked the state government that though it had started schemes such as Ladki Bahin, giving money to “people who are not working,” when will it announce the establishment of a hospital at Dharni in Melghat region of Amravati district.
The HC was hearing PILs raising concerns over malnutrition among children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers in Melghat in Amravati district and other tribal regions in Maharashtra, including those filed by Dr Rajendra Burma and activist Bandu Sampatrao Sane.
During the earlier hearing, pulling up the government for doing “too little” over the issue of deaths of pregnant and lactating women along with the infants due to malnutrition, a bench of Justices Ravindra V Ghuge and Abhay J Mantri had stressed on “zero tolerance” approach to avoid such deaths.
Senior advocate Jugal Kishore Gilda for petitioners claimed thousands of deaths had taken place in the tribal region in the past two years. However, sufficient measures were not taken.
He further argued that orders in the case have not been followed by the government. He argued that over Rs 140 crore were due to Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) related to water supply schemes in the Melghat region and the board was to cut the electricity supply by March 31 if the dues were not paid.
“The government has not given the grants to those panchayats, to local authorities. Again, there will be deaths because of polluted water. In water supply schemes, pumping will not be available because of the lack of electricity supply. Everything will have to rush to the courts. What is the state doing? And then the state government will say High Court is running the administration, while they do not obey court orders,” Gilda argued.
Gilda further argued that earlier benches had ordered auditing of the schemes related to tribal region, however, the details of the same are not yet presented.
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Additional Government Pleader (AGP) Bhupesh Samant for the state stated that the government has decided to construct a 300-bedded district-hospital level facility at Dharni in Melghat region.
However, the court asked while the government had in-principle decided to construct such a hospital, within how much time the same will be established in the region.
“He (Gilda) is right in saying that state can do anything. You (state) can start your schemes for donating money to people who are not working and sitting at home and use some term about something like Ladki..When will you announce the establishment of this hospital at Dharni?” Justice Ghuge asked.
The court also asked the government to remain “sensitive” about sickle cell anaemia patients in the region who have to suffer for life.” The HC is likely to pass further orders on Thursday, March 26.
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