Chhattisgarh HC Orders Immediate Inspection of CIMS Bilaspur Over Emergency Access Concerns

The Chhattisgarh High Court has directed an immediate inspection of the Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences to evaluate its emergency preparedness and accessibility.

The order was passed on April 8 by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal while hearing a public interest litigation concerning the hospital’s functioning. Court-appointed commissioners have been tasked with inspecting the facility and submitting a report before the next hearing on May 5.

The bench flagged serious concerns about the hospital’s location in a congested area, observing that narrow access roads, heavy traffic, and indiscriminate parking near the main gate could obstruct critical emergency services such as ambulances and fire tenders.

To address these issues, district authorities including the Collector, Municipal Commissioner, and Superintendent of Police have been instructed to keep the vicinity free from encroachments and unauthorized parking to ensure smooth access for emergency vehicles.

The court also reviewed the status of medical equipment procurement based on an affidavit filed on April 7 by the Managing Director of the Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation.

As per the affidavit, 10 out of 13 prioritised categories of medical equipment have been supplied as of April 6, 2026. Procurement for nine categories, including temporary pacemakers, fibre-optic bronchoscopes, and ultrasound machines, is currently under technical evaluation.

Tenders for seven additional categories through the GeM portal were scheduled to open on April 8, subject to system approvals. One category a digital video colposcope will be retendered after receiving no bids. Meanwhile, the procurement of ventilators remains ongoing, with bids expected on April 17.

The court has directed the CGMSC Managing Director to file an updated status report on all pending tenders at the next hearing.