The Crossbill Team
The Supreme Court has directed the Union and Delhi governments to conduct an inquiry into whether Indraprastha Apollo Hospital has complied with its lease condition of providing free treatment to economically weaker patients.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh expressed doubt over the hospital's adherence to its contractual obligation despite occupying government-leased land at a nominal rent of Re 1 per month since March 1994, The Indian Express reported.
The court warned that if the hospital was found non-compliant, it might consider handing over its operations to AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences).
“If we find out that poor people are not provided free treatment, we will hand over the hospital to AIIMS,” the newspaper quoted the court’s statement.
The Supreme Court directed the central and Delhi governments to form a joint inspection team to determine whether the hospital is providing treatment to poor patients or if the land has been exploited for private interests.
“Discuss the matter at the highest level, and if need be, we will ask AIIMS to run the hospital," the court stated, granting the hospital four weeks to submit a detailed report.
The Apollo Hospitals Group and the Delhi government own 25% and 26% stakes, respectively, in Indraprastha Medical Corporation, which runs the hospital.
Criticizing the state’s role, the Supreme Court remarked: “If the Delhi government is earning profit from the hospital instead of taking care of the poor patients, it is the most unfortunate thing.”
Under its lease agreement, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital is required to offer free treatment to 33% of its inpatients and 40% of its outpatient cases. However, the Supreme Court noted that the hospital had repeatedly failed to uphold this obligation despite previous court directives.
In 2009, the Delhi High Court had instructed the hospital to allocate 200 beds free of cost to indigent patients.
The Supreme Court upheld this order later that year. On Tuesday (March 25, 2025), the apex court expressed concern that there was no clarity on whether even these 200 beds were being provided to the poor.
The hospital’s management has also been given the liberty to submit its own data on free treatment.
The findings of the government-ordered probe will determine the hospital’s fate and whether further legal action is warranted.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh expressed doubt over the hospital's adherence to its contractual obligation despite occupying government-leased land at a nominal rent of Re 1 per month since March 1994, The Indian Express reported.
The court warned that if the hospital was found non-compliant, it might consider handing over its operations to AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences).
“If we find out that poor people are not provided free treatment, we will hand over the hospital to AIIMS,” the newspaper quoted the court’s statement.
The Supreme Court directed the central and Delhi governments to form a joint inspection team to determine whether the hospital is providing treatment to poor patients or if the land has been exploited for private interests.
“Discuss the matter at the highest level, and if need be, we will ask AIIMS to run the hospital," the court stated, granting the hospital four weeks to submit a detailed report.
The Apollo Hospitals Group and the Delhi government own 25% and 26% stakes, respectively, in Indraprastha Medical Corporation, which runs the hospital.
Criticizing the state’s role, the Supreme Court remarked: “If the Delhi government is earning profit from the hospital instead of taking care of the poor patients, it is the most unfortunate thing.”
Under its lease agreement, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital is required to offer free treatment to 33% of its inpatients and 40% of its outpatient cases. However, the Supreme Court noted that the hospital had repeatedly failed to uphold this obligation despite previous court directives.
In 2009, the Delhi High Court had instructed the hospital to allocate 200 beds free of cost to indigent patients.
The Supreme Court upheld this order later that year. On Tuesday (March 25, 2025), the apex court expressed concern that there was no clarity on whether even these 200 beds were being provided to the poor.
The hospital’s management has also been given the liberty to submit its own data on free treatment.
The findings of the government-ordered probe will determine the hospital’s fate and whether further legal action is warranted.
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