R.L. Anand, J. - (1.) THE short point in this writ petition is whether the work charged employee, if he suffers with heart problem and gets medical treatment while not on duty, is entitled to medical reimbursement.
(2.) SOME facts can be noticed in the following manner. The petitioner Shri Mast Ram, has filed the present writ petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India against the State of Punjab and others and he sought the direction of this Court in the nature of mandamus by making a prayer that direction be issued to the respondents to reimburse him the medical expenses to the tune of Rs. 1,02,819.50, which amount was spent by him on his heart surgery during the period 23.2.1999 to 8.3.1999 in the P.G.I. Chandigarh. It is the common case of the parties that petitioner was working as a work charged employee with the State of Punjab and he suffered a heart problem as a result of which heart surgery was done in P.G.I. on 23.2.1999. The petitioner remained admitted in the PGI up to 8.3.1999 and during the course of medical treatment he incurred a huge amount of Rs. 1,02,819.50.
(3.) THE petitioner made a prayer to the respondent -authorities for his medical reimbursement but it has been declined on the ground that since he is work charged employee and that he suffered the problem while not on duty, therefore, he was not entitled to the medical reimbursement.;