Paediatrician, Support Staff, Nodal Officer Appointed To Serve In Creche Facility In HC Premises : WB Govt Informs Calcutta High Court

The State government through Advocate General Kishore Datta informed Calcutta High Court on Monday that pursuant to the Court's earlier orders, one paediatrician and one support staff had been appointed to look after children admitted in the creche facility currently being operated in the High Court premises. The Court was adjudicating upon a plea seeking the constitution of a creche facility in the sesquicentenary building of the High Court and the employment of adequate facilities to look after toddlers of Advocates, staff of Advocates and other employees of the High Court.

A Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj on Monday recorded in its order that the Health Secretary of West Bengal had sanctioned the appointment of a paediatrician, a support staff and a Nodal officer to serve in the creche facility of the High Court.

The Bench also observed that such a crèche facility for children in the High Court premises would cater to the needs of all Advocates and employees of the High Court. On request of the concerned counsels, the Bench also opined that measures would be taken to publicise the constitution of such a creche facility by uploading a notification to this effect on the website of the High Court.

A Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee vide earlier order dated November 8, 2019 had constituted a Committee consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Women and Child Development of the Centre and the State government to deliberate upon the infrastructure and personnel required to run the crèche and accordingly a report had been submitted by the Committee before the Court.

In its November 8, 2019 order, the Court had also directed the Director of Health Services, West Bengal to identify a paediatrician or a team of paediatricians who will be available at the crèche facility on a regular basis.

The matter is slated to be heard next on August 23 to ensure further compliance.

Case Title: Atasi Ghosh & Ors. Vs. The State of West Bengal & Ors.