Mohali ESIC Row: HC not satisfied with details, orders to file accounts on expenditure

New Delhi, May 25 (KNN) In the ongoing hearing of a PIL admitted in the Punjab and Haryana High Court by the Mohali Industries Association (MIA) against the Employee State Insurance Corporation and Director Health Services, the bench has asked for further details of the accounts of the amount collected and expenditures.

The High Court in the previous hearing had asked for the details of money collected and passed over to the Director of Health Services from various industries in Mohali by the ESIC. Responding to which the counsel for ESIC submitted an affidavit on the 128 crore rupees collected by the Insurance corporation.  However the bench observed that the disclosures made in the affidavit were not very clear and the Court has now asked the ESIC to submit a detailed explanation of the amounts received. It has also asked the ESIC to provide the court with details of the expenditures made from the amount collected.

Earlier this month the Mohali District Association (MIA) filed a PIL against the Union of India and other respondents alleging that the amount is being collected from the poor industry workers as insurance premiums by the ESIC. But when it comes to providing health facilities to the workers, there are no proper facilities in place at the ESIC hospitals in the region.  Because of which the workers have to approach private hospitals for treatments and then wait for an uncertain duration of time to get their reimbursements.

Mohali District Association’s Chairman Jasbir Singh informed KNN, that there have been a lot of cases in which the poor industry workers suffered due to the irresponsible behaviour of the ESIC  officials. He expects a legal solution to the problem soon. (KNN/ DA)