Hans News Service New Delhi

TheSupreme Court on Wednesday rapped Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital for not responding to a contempt notice issued by it over preparation of a standard operating procedure (SOP) for providing emergency medical care to EWS patients.

A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Shree Chandrashekhar sought reply from the hospital in two weeks.

The top court noted that the hospital in its affidavit stated that it had not been served with any notice to participate.

“This statement is contrary to the office report dated April 2, 2026, which clearly records that notice had been served. The statement made in the reply is, therefore, ex facie false. Accordingly, we draw up formal contempt proceedings against the said respondent through its Medical Superintendent,” the bench said.

During the hearing, the top court was informed by amicus curiae and senior advocate Sanjay Jain that only 12 hospitals have participated in the meeting out of 52.

He informed the apex court that a revised standard operating procedure (SOP) has been filed as per the court’s direction.

“It is stated that only 12 hospitals participated in the consultation process. Senior counsel appearing on behalf of several hospitals submit that they wish to file their responses and suggestions to the revised SOP,” the bench said while posting the matter for hearing on September 30.

The top court was hearing a plea related to its 2018 judgment which held that hospitals which received land at concessional rates must provide free treatment to EWS patients, to the extent of 10 per cent at in-patient departments and 25 per cent at out-patient departments.