The petitioner argued that the definition of 'services' in the 1986 Act did not mention healthcare. It was proposed to be included under the new Act. was eventually removed. To this, Justice Chandrachud said, the definition of 'service' in the Act is broad. If Parliament wanted to take it out, it would have said it clearly.
The Supreme Court said, doctors and health services have not been kept out of the purview of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The apex court dismissed the petition of the Medico Legal Action Group, upholding the Bombay High Court's decision in this regard.
A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Hima Kohli said on Friday, merely by setting aside the 1986 Act by the 2019 Act, the health care services provided by doctors to patients would not be taken out of the definition of the word 'service'. The petitioner's contention was that consumer complaints cannot be filed against doctors under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The Bombay High Court dismissed the petition in October 2021.
Minister's statement cannot limit the law
The petition referred to the statement of the Union Minister while introducing the Bill. The minister had then said, health services not covered under the Bill. The bench said, the statement of the minister cannot limit the scope of the law.
broad definition of service
The petitioner argued that the definition of 'services' in the 1986 Act did not mention healthcare. It was proposed to be included under the new Act. was eventually removed. To this, Justice Chandrachud said, the definition of 'service' in the Act is broad. If Parliament wanted to take it out, it would have said it clearly.
HZL stake case: CBI registers FIR after Supreme Court order
The Central Government told the Supreme Court on Friday that the CBI has registered an FIR in the case of the sale of 26 per cent stake of Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) by the then government in 2002. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Hima Kohli that the CBI has taken this action after the Supreme Court's order last year.
The bench then directed Mehta to file a fresh status report in the matter. The next hearing of the matter will take place after the summer vacation. The Supreme Court had on November 18 last year ordered a CBI inquiry into the matter.
The apex court's order came nearly two decades after the sale. In 2002, the first NDA government led by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee sold 26 per cent stake in HZL to strategic partner SOVL. The apex court had ordered the CBI to investigate the alleged irregularities in the said case by registering an FIR.
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