The Karnataka High Court has directed the state government to submit a status report on the condition of the government hospitals in Bangalore including SDS Sanatorium where a slum has come up in its premises.

The appellant, Krishna Bhat had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) on the pathetic condition of the government hospitals in Bangalore and urged the High Court to appoint a court commissioner to inspect and report on the work of government hospitals in Bangalore.

The High Court dismissed the petition on November 13, 2000 and the petitioner had appealed against the order in the Supreme Court. On January 16, 2002, the Supreme Court remitted the case to the High Court with the observations that it could appoint a court commissioner and that the petitioner could give a list of hospitals that did not have adequate facilities.

The petitioner drew up 14 hospitals in Bangalore that lacked adequate facilities. These hospitals, the petitioner said were not properly maintained. The 14 hospitals included central Leprosium, Epidemic Diseases Hospital, General Hospital-Jaynagar, HSIS Ghosha Hospital, KC General Hospital, Minto Ophthalmic Institute, Vani Vilas Children and Women's hospital, Bowring & Lady Curzon Hospital, Victoria Hospital, TB&CD Hospital, SDS Sanatorium, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Government Homeopathic College and Hospital and Sri Jayachamarajendra Institute of Indian Medicine.

A slum has come up on the premises of the SDS Sanatorium besides the National Institute of Mental health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS). The appellant submitted that the government had not cleared the slum.

A Divisional Bench comprising of the chief justice NK Jain and VG Sabhahit directed the state government to place all the facts in pursuant to the Supreme Court direction.