IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY, THE TWENTY NINTH DAY OF NOVEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND FOUR PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI DEVINDER GUPTA, THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE Ms. JUSTICE G.ROHINI WRIT PETITION No. 9556 of 1996 Between: M/s. People for Economic and Effective Medicare, rep.by it'sTrustee,Sri P.Vijaya Babu,S/o. P.Venkateswara Rao D.No.3.5.1092/2/C, Venkateswara Nagar Colony, Narayanaguda, Hyderabad. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The Secretary , Medical, Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of A.P. Secretariat, Hyderabad. 2 The Director of Medical Education, Govt. of A.P. Sultan Bazar, Hyderabad. 3 A.P.General Chest Hospital, rep.by it's Superintendent, Erragadda, Hyderabad. 4 Dr.G.Thippanna,Superintendent, A.P.General Chest Hospital, Erragadda, Hyderabad. .....RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed herein the High Court may be pleased to pass an appropriate Writ Order or direction more in the nature of Writ of Mandamus directing the Respondents not to permit the 3rd respondent hospital for Cinema Shooting or for any other purpose other than patient care. Counsel for the Petitioner : Mr.P.RADHAKRISHNA Counsel for the Respondents : GP FOR MEDICAL & HEALTH The Court made the following : ORAL ORDER: (per the Hon’ble the Chief Justice) None for the petitioner. This petition was filed as public interest litigation by People of Economic and Effective Medicare, making grievance against the orders stated to have been passed by fourth respondent in allowing cinema shooting in A.P. General Chest Hospital, Erragadda, Hyderabad. The main grievance was that third respondent is a referral and teaching hospital, and the State Government had issued Government Order on 18th March 1996 converting it as a General Hospital considering the importance and its necessity in view of the growing population. After it was converted to General Hospital, it is alleged that fourth respondent was misusing the same by permitting films to be shot in the Hospital, which would adversely affect the patients. Initially, an interim order was passed not to permit any shooting of films in A.P. General Chest Hospital, Erragadda. Counter affidavit, thereafter, was filed by the Superintendent, Govt. General Chest Hospital, stating that G.O.Ms.No.256, General Administration (I& PR) Department, dated 24th June, 1995 had been issued by the Government authorizing A.P. State Film Development Corporation Ltd., to issue shooting permissions to intending producers and directors planning to shoot films in the State of Andhra Pradesh. It is stated that as per the G.O., all the Departments of the Government have to honour the permission granted by the A.P. State Film Development Corporation Ltd., It is stated that fourth respondent is the custodian of third respondent hospital and has taken utmost care to see that the premises is not polluted and the routine work of the Hospital is not disturbed during film shooting, if any. Film shooting is never allowed during morning hours from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. when hospital staff is busy in taking care of the patients. Film shootings would take place in and around administrative block away from the main hospital building and very occasionally in the corridors of the main hospital out of busy hospital hours without allowing them to enter into the wards and the operation theatre, as no person is permitted to enter the theatre without sterilized clothes. It is stated that even fourth respondent has addressed number of letters to the authorities saying that it is not possible to permit shooting in the corridors. In view of the above, we do not see any ground to issue any direction inasmuch as it is for fourth respondent to ensure that even if permission is granted by the A.P. State Film Development Corporation Ltd., he has to honour the permission, but subject to the condition that no inconvenience is caused to the patients, and no disturbance is caused to proper administration of third respondent hospital, or the hospital atmosphere. Order accordingly. The writ petition stands disposed of. _________________________ (DEVINDER GUPTA, C.J.) 29th November 2004. _________________________ (G.ROHINI, J.) ARS To 1 The Secretary , Medical, Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of A.P. Secretariat, Hyderabad. 2 The Director of Medical Education, Govt. of A.P. Sultan Bazar, Hyderabad. 3 The Superintendent, A.P.General Chest Hospital, Erragadda, Hyderabad. 4 Dr.G.Thippanna,Superintendent, A.P.General Chest Hospital, Erragadda, Hyderabad. 5 Two CCs to the G.P. for Medical & Health, High Court Buildings, Hyderabad (OUT). 6 Two C.D. copies.