The Chhattisgarh High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging irregularities in the purchase of Mobile Medical Units under the Prime Minister’s Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), a national initiative aimed at improving healthcare access and ensuring social justice for tribal communities and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. The petition, filed by Upendra Gupta, raised concerns over the deployment of 57 Mobile Medical Units introduced by the state government to function as mobile Primary Health Centres in remote tribal areas lacking permanent healthcare infrastructure. According to the petition, the Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Limited had issued a tender on April 4, 2025, for procurement and operation of these units at an estimated cost of Rs 108 crore. The contract was awarded to Dhanush Healthcare Systems Private Limited. The petitioner alleged that the vehicles supplied under the contract failed to meet mandatory technical specifications.

 

These included lower Gross Vehicle Weight, inadequate internal height, and restricted usable space, rendering them unsuitable to operate as fully equipped Mobile Medical Units. It was claimed that essential medical infrastructure such as wash basins, water storage, power backup systems, and oxygen support equipment were either missing or substandard. The PIL also stated that 35 of the 57 units remained non-operational and parked, despite significant public expenditure, leading to an alleged financial loss of over Rs 25.7 crore. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal dismissed the petition. The court observed that the petitioner lacked locus standi to file the PIL and noted that the plea did not appear to be a genuine public interest matter. The bench further remarked that the petition seemed to have been filed with an oblique motive and pointed out that the petitioner had alternative and effective remedies available for redressal of his grievances. On these grounds, the court declined to invoke its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution and dismissed the PIL.