IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA C.W.P. No: 432 of 2005 Date of decision: 1.1.2008 Kushth Rogi Sangharsh Smiti ..Petitioner Versus State of H.P. and others ..Respondents Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Gupta, Judge. The Hon’ble Mr. Justice V.K. Ahuja, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the Petitioner: Ms. Pratima Malhotra, Advocate For the Respondents: Mr. R.K.Bawa, Advocate General, with Mr. R.M.Bisht, Deputy Advocate General. Per Deepak Gupta, J. (Oral) This petition has been filed in the public interest. The petitioner has claimed various reliefs and we had passed a detailed order on 19th December, 2006. The petitioner is representing the interest of the leprosy affected patients in Himachal Pradesh. The State of Himachal Pradesh proposed to close some dedicated leprosy hospitals and shift the leprosy patients to two hospitals at Mandodhar and Kandwari. The petitioner had 1 Whether the reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the Judgment? 2 challenged the said action. We had upheld the order of the State and permitted it to close down the other leprosy hospitals. We had, however, directed that the State must ensure dedicated leprosy wards in all the District Hospitals. We had, in our judgment, held that chronic patients of leprosy who cannot be accommodated anywhere else, will be accommodated at the two hospitals at Mandodhar and Kandwari and the other patients shall be treated in the dedicated leprosy wards. We had thereafter directed the Leprosy Officers of all the districts to file affidavits giving details of both, out-door and in-door patients under treatment. We had also directed that ten beded wards should be provided exclusively for the treatment of leprosy patients in District Hospital, Nahan. Affidavits have been filed by all the District Leprosy Officers concerned showing the number of patients and also showing the requirement of beds in each districts. The various District Leprosy Officers have indicated the following requirements of beds in the District Hospitals:- 1. District Shimla = 5 beds 2. District Solan = 5 beds 3. District Sirmour = 5 beds 3 4. District Kinnaur = 2 beds 5. District Lahaul & Spiti = 1 bed 6. District Bilaspur = 2 beds 7. District Hamirpur = 2 beds 8. District Mandi = 5 beds 9. District Kullu = 2 beds 10. District Una = 2 beds 11. District Kangra = 5 beds 12. District Chamba = 5 beds We, therefore, in modification of our earlier order in respect of District Sirmour, hereby direct the State Government through the Principal Secretary (Health) to the Government of H.P. to ensure that sufficient number of beds, as demanded by the District Leprosy Officers and mentioned hereinabove, are provided in each District Hospitals exclusively for the treatment of leprosy patients. We, in our earlier order had already indicated that there is a need to integrate the treatment of leprosy patients in ordinary hospitals. However, we also cannot loose sight of the fact that keeping in view the nature of the disease and the factual situation which exist in society, leprosy patients may not 4 be welcomed in the general wards by the other patients. We, therefore, direct that where the demand is for 4 beds or more, the District Hospital Authorities shall ensure that a separate room is earmarked for the leprosy patients. In other places where the demand is less than 4 beds and it is not feasible to provide a separate room, requisite area can be cordoned by either placing screens or temporary wooden partition to enclose the space where the bed(s) of leprosy patient(s) can be placed. Nothing now survives in the present writ petition which is disposed of in the aforesaid terms. However, since the petition has been filed in public interest, we give liberty to the petitioners to approach this court for redressal of any connected grievances even in future by filing an application in this writ petition itself. ( Deepak Gupta ), J. January 1, 2008(K) ( V. K. Ahuja ), J.