Lady Willingdon: Govt issued notice on contempt of court plea

‘The government has violated the court’s stay order’.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court on Monday issued a notice to the government on a contempt of court petition for allegedly making preparations to demolish a portion of Lady Willingdon Hospital, to construct a flyover at Azadi Chowk without waiting for vacation of a stay order by the court in this regard.

The court then adjourned the hearing for the contempt of court petition as well as the main case untilTuesday (today). On the court’s orders earlier, the government had submitted the plan for demolition. It identified 14 different areas which would be demolished. These included the Maternity Wards A and B, the kitchen, the general store, the chemical store, and a portion of the doctors’ hostel. The law officer appearing before the court on behalf of the government said the government planned to construct these facilities at a new location in the hospital with the consent of the medical superintendent. He said Rs8.8 million would be spent on the project.

Counsel for the Young Doctors’ Association said the government had already constructed walls on the premises to mark the areas meant for demolition. He said this amounted to contempt of court as a stay order had been issued by the court against demolition.

The court asked both sides to file replies to each other’s contentions.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2014.