Ask doctors to write prescriptions in legible handwriting, Orissa HC tells state
Cuttack (Odisha), Jan 8: The Orissa High Court has directed the state government to issue a circular asking doctors to write all prescriptions and medico-legal reports in legible handwriting, if possible, in capital letters or in a typed form.
This will ensure that the judicial system does not suffer from "unnecessary fatigue" in reading those documents, the order said.
This direction came from the High Court last week when Justice S K Panigrahi found it difficult to decide a case, as the post-mortem examination report annexed in the petition was not legible and could not be comprehended.
A petitioner had approached the court seeking a direction to the government to consider his representation for ex-gratia assistance as his elder son had died due to snakebite.
In compliance with an earlier order, the doctor who had written the post-mortem examination report appeared before the court through virtual mode, read out the incomprehensible document and rendered his opinion. Following this, the court was able to realise that it was a snakebite case and adjudicated over it.
"In many cases, the casual approach of most of the doctors while writing the post-mortem reports, is affecting comprehension of medico-legal cases very badly, and the judicial system finds it very difficult to read those (reports) to come to a definite conclusion," Justice Panigrahi observed in his order.
He said that the tendency of writing such "zigzag handwriting", which cannot be read by a common man or judicial officers, has become a fashion among the doctors of the state.
"Hence, this court directs the Chief Secretary, State of Odisha, to issue directions to all doctors of the state to write post-mortem reports and prescriptions in capital letters or in legible handwriting," the high court said in the order passed on January 4.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
