Delhi High Court Issues Notice Over Delayed Super Specialty Block at RML Hospital

The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the central government, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, and the Delhi government regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) filed on Monday. The petition claims that despite the super specialty block project at RML Hospital being largely completed, it has not yet been operationalized. The court has requested officials to address the issues raised in the petition. Additionally, the High Court's division bench has included the Delhi Fire Service as a respondent, as legal fire safety approvals are part of the concerns related to the facility's activation. The next hearing for this case is scheduled for August 3, 2026.

This PIL was filed by the NGO 'Social Jurist' through lawyers Ashok Agarwal and Kumar Utkarsh. It demands immediate rectification of deficiencies, acquisition of all necessary legal approvals (such as completion and safety certificates), and a prompt operationalization of the super specialty block. Senior lawyer Satyakam and lawyer Ashok Agarwal, representing the petitioner, stated that approximately ₹400 crore has been spent on constructing the super specialty block.

According to the petitioner, the facility is expected to provide around 666 beds, advanced operation theaters, and specialized healthcare services. However, delays in obtaining legal approvals and administrative shortcomings have prevented it from becoming operational. The petitioner argues that despite significant progress in infrastructure development, the delays have deprived thousands of patients of essential specialized medical services.

The petition highlights that the prolonged delay in activating this facility undermines public healthcare infrastructure and results in wastage of government resources, despite substantial expenditure on the project.