Jharkhand High Court Pulls Up RIMS for Poor Biomedical Waste Management

Ranchi: The Jharkhand High Court has strongly criticized the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) for failing to put in place adequate arrangements for the disposal of biomedical waste. RIMS is the largest government medical college and hospital in the state.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Jharkhand Human Rights Confederation, expressed dissatisfaction with the response submitted by the RIMS administration.

The court noted that RIMS had not complied with its earlier directions on ensuring scientific and lawful disposal of biomedical waste, despite repeated instructions.

The Bench directed the Director of RIMS to submit a detailed affidavit clearly explaining the progress made in completing the tender process for biomedical waste disposal. The case has been scheduled for further hearing on February 2.

During the proceedings, the petitioner informed the court that the new tender for waste disposal had not yet been finalized. RIMS, however, stated that the tender process was ongoing and that a fresh tender had been issued to invite eligible agencies.

RIMS also informed the court that it plans to develop an integrated waste management system for biomedical, solid, and dry waste within the hospital premises.

Earlier, the High Court had taken serious note of the indiscriminate dumping of waste on the RIMS campus and had sought a comprehensive status report on the existing waste management practices.

The PIL seeks strict enforcement of the Biomedical Waste Management Rules framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, highlighting that improper handling of such waste poses a grave threat to public health and the environment.

With inputs from IANS