A proposal to build a private multi-speciality hospital near the India-Bangladesh border in Assam has reached the Supreme Court after the Indian Army raised security concerns over the project. During the hearing, the apex court said a solution must be found that balances national security with public health needs.
The hospital is proposed to be built in the Jorhat area of Assam. The Jorhat Development Authority had earlier granted permission for the project, but the approval was later withdrawn following objections from the Army, which expressed concerns about security in the sensitive border region.
Army raises security concerns
The Army has said it is not opposed to the construction of a hospital in principle, as it could also be useful for military personnel during emergencies. However, it has insisted that strict security measures must be followed if the project goes ahead.
According to the Army, the hospital could pose a security risk because of its proximity to an Army camp. It has demanded that the hospital premises must have a concrete boundary wall higher than 15 feet. The Army has also said that no windows of the hospital building should face the Army camp. These conditions, it said, are necessary to prevent any threat to border security.
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Supreme Court seeks balanced solution
The matter was heard by a Supreme Court division bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma. The bench observed that there must be a balance between national security and the public's need for healthcare facilities.
Following this, the court directed Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Bandyopadhyay, appearing for the government and the Army, and senior advocate Siddharth Dave, representing the private hospital, to find a workable solution. The court has asked both sides to submit their proposal within the next two weeks.
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During the hearing, the Additional Solicitor General highlighted the sensitive situation along the India-Bangladesh border and stressed the need to prioritise security concerns. On the other hand, advocate Siddharth Dave told the court that over eight bighas of land had been purchased for the hospital within Jorhat municipality limits. He said the project was approved by the Jorhat Development Council on March 4, 2022, but the permission was later cancelled due to the Army's objections.
Dave also pointed out that several markets and other buildings already exist near the Army camp. He argued that there should be no objection to a construction located more than 10 metres away from the camp, adding that the proposed hospital site is around 70 metres away from the Army premises.
