Authority: High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh
Order Date: 09.07.2026
Case Overview
- Parties: Petitioner – Parath Singh Chauhan, a retired Science Master; Respondents – State of Haryana and other officials.
- Nature of Proceeding: Writ petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution seeking a mandamus directing payment of medical reimbursement.
- Background:
- Appointed as Science Master on 10.07.1981, retired on 30.06.2010 as Block Education.
- Suffered health issues; admitted to Medanta Hospital from 18.05.2025 to 21.05.2025 for implantation of a permanent dual‑chamber pacemaker.
- Total hospital bill: Rs.2,49,078; State of Haryana paid Rs.1,71,720 directly to the hospital.
- Petitioner submitted reimbursement claim with documents on 15.07.2025 for the balance amount of Rs.77,358.
- Verification by Respondent No.3 dated 04.02.2026 determined Rs.71,578 as admissible.
- Representation dated 19.03.2026 reiterated the claim, but the amount remained unpaid.
- Legal Reasoning:
- Court noted that reimbursement cannot be denied solely due to treatment in a non‑empanelled hospital when the procedure is essential and emergency in nature.
- Cited Article 21 of the Constitution guaranteeing the right to life and self‑preservation.
- Referred to Supreme Court judgments (e.g., Surjit Singh vs. State of Punjab and related High Court precedents) supporting reimbursement in emergency medical cases.
- Acknowledged that the State had already accepted the claim through verification, leaving no justification for further delay.
Final Outcome
- The petition is allowed.
- Respondents are directed to reimburse the petitioner Rs.71,578 for the medical procedure, as determined in Annexure P‑2, within six weeks from receipt of a certified copy of this order.
- All pending miscellaneous applications, if any, are disposed of.
Topics: Medical Reimbursement, Constitutional Right to Life