New Delhi: Delhi High Court Monday sought the stand of Centre on a contempt petition alleging failure to begin construction of a permanent medical college building at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML Hospital) in the city.Justice Neena Bansal Krishna directed the authorities to file a compliance report within four weeks and listed the matter for hearing in Jan next year.The court was hearing a plea by Social Jurist, a civil rights group, which alleged that the authorities had failed to comply with court orders of July, in which it had asked govt to consider a representation by the NGO and take a decision.Appearing for Social Jurist, advocate Ashok Agarwal submitted that the matter concerned the start and completion of construction of the permanent medical college building at ABVIMS/RML Hospital and alleged that despite sanction of Rs 472.9 crore, construction had not begun.According to the contempt plea, the amount was sanctioned and approved by Centre on Feb 17, 2024, but construction had not started at the project site.The petitioner had earlier approached the authorities after claiming that an RTI response dated June 13, 2026, showed no construction had started.The court had then disposed of the plea in July, directing the authorities to consider the representation and take an appropriate decision and action in accordance with law.The petitioner has alleged that despite informing govt of the court orders, no decision on its June 22 representation was communicated to it and construction had not commenced. It has therefore sought initiation of contempt proceedings against the officials concerned.The court has now granted the respondents four weeks to place their compliance report on record and will consider the matter further on Jan 6, 2027.
