SAITM students withdraw contempt of Court action against Health Ministry

The contempt of court action filed by five students attached to the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine Ltd. (SAITM), Malabe against the Health Ministry for failing to comply with an undertaking given to facilitate the required clinical training at designated state hospitals was withdrawn by the petitioners yesterday.

President's Counsel Romesh de Silva with Sudath Caldera appearing for the petitioners moved Court that they be allowed to withdraw the complaint since the Health Ministry has allowed the students to engage in clinical training at state hospitals including the Avissawella base hospital.

Taking into consideration the facts, the Supreme Court's three-judge-Bench comprising justices Chandra Ekanayake, Eva Wanasundara and Sisira de Abrew allowed the petitioners to withdraw the complaint and terminated the court proceedings.

Meanwhile, an attempt made by the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) to intervene into the case was yesterday thwarted because of the petitioners' decision to withdraw their complaint.

On the previous occasion, the Health Ministry informed the Supreme Court that the Ministry has taken a decision to allow students attached to SAITM in Malabe to engage in clinical training at state hospitals covering several subjects.

Submitting a letter before Supreme Court, the Health Ministry Secretary informed Court that the ministry has designated state hospitals coming under the Avissawella and Kaduwela MOH areas to allow clinical training to the SAITM students in subjects; Public Health, Vector Management, Forensic Medicine and Psychiatry.

The Health Ministry further informed Court that the rest of the subjects for clinical training at state hospitals would be decided shortly.

Five students attached to SAITM had filed a contempt of court action against Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and the Ministry Secretary for failing to comply with an undertaking given to facilitate the required clinical training at designated state hospitals.

The five petitioners had cited Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne and Health Ministry Secretary Anura Jayawickrema as respondents. The petitioners alleged that the respondents have deliberately and willfully and without any reasonable cause failed to abide by and to act upon the solemn undertaking given to the Supreme Court on September 29, 2014 in the Fundamental rights application No:SCFR 208/14.