THE MADRAS HIGH COURT IN THE CASE WAS HEARING THE PETITION MOVED CHALLENGING THE HALF-DAY CLOSURE OF JAWAHARLAL INSTITUTE OF POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, PUDUCHERRY ON ACCOUNT OF THE RAM MANDIR PRAN PRATISHTHA CEREMONY TO BE HELD IN AYODHYA.

The Division bench comprising of Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice Bharata Chakravarty in the case observed and has assembled for a special Sunday hearing to hear a plea by the petitioner challenging a circular issued on January 19, 2024 through an Office Memorandum by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pension, declaring that JIPMER Hospital in Puducherry would observe a half-day and be functional only from 2:30 pm on Monday January 22, 2024 on the account of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha Ceremony to be held in Ayodhya.

The petitioner in the plea challenged that how the premier government medical institution such as JIPMER could remain closed for half a day.

It has been submitted before the court that such an unforeseen and sudden closure would cause great hardships to patients who had scheduled medical appointments.

The court in the case observed and has disposed of the PIL upon noting the Union's submission that the hospital would remain sufficiently staffed and accept emergency cases even during the half-day closure.