Uttarakhand

• 29 Apr 2023

MoU Signed Between AIIMS and Pinnacle Company for Air Ambulance Service

Why in News?

On April 27, 2023, an MoU was signed between AIIMS Rishikesh and Pinnacle Company to operate an air ambulance. Air ambulance service will be operated from AIIMS for emergency and trauma services from May.

Key Points

• Air ambulance service will be started for the first time with the cooperation of the Central and State Governments to take serious patients to AIIMS immediately for emergency and trauma services.
• Dr. Meenu Singh, Director of AIIMS Rishikesh, said that Pinnacle Company will provide service for air ambulances, while Pawan Hans will provide helicopter for air ambulance. The service will be started as soon as the helicopters become available.
• For air ambulance service, 50 trips have been fixed in a month. A team of doctors at AIIMS Rishikesh will decide whether a patient needs an air ambulance immediately for emergency and trauma services or not. The patient's condition will be monitored through telemedicine.

President Approves Appointment of Three New Judges in Uttarakhand High Court

Why in News?

On April 27, 2023, the President approved the appointment of three new judges in the Uttarakhand High Court. These include Senior Advocate Rakesh Thapliyal, Advocate Pankaj Purohit and High Court Registrar General Vivek Bharti Sharma. They will be administered the oath by Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi.

Key Points

• It is known that at present five judges including the Chief Justice were working in the Uttarakhand High Court. Now the number of judges will be eight.
• Originally, senior advocate Rakesh Thapliyal, a resident of Khatasayun Shrikot in Pauri Garhwal, was the Assistant Solicitor General of the Central Government in the Uttarakhand High Court. He has got this responsibility thrice since 2014. After the formation of Uttarakhand High Court, he came to Nainital High Court in 2000. Became the Standing Counsel of the Central Government in 2002 and resigned from this post after 11 months.
• Registrar General Vivek Bharti Sharma is a 2005 Uttarakhand batch Higher Judiciary Service judicial officer. He started practicing in the Delhi High Court in 1990 and was appointed Standing Counsel in the Delhi High Court on behalf of the Government of Delhi. Later he became the Standing Counsel of the Government of India. After getting selected in the Higher Judicial Service, he was Additional District Judge Haridwar, Haldwani, Nainital.
• Vivek Bharti Sharma also became Principal District Judge Pithoragarh and Pauri. He has also served as the Law Advisor to the Governor. He has also been the Chairman of Commercial Taxes Tribunal, Director of Ujala Bhowali and District Judge, Haridwar. In April 2022, he was made the Registrar General of the High Court.
• Advocate Pankaj Purohit, a resident of Deval Gwad Chamoli, was registered with the Allahabad Bar Council in 1992. From 1997 he started practicing in Allahabad High Court. After the formation of Uttarakhand state, he started practicing in Uttarakhand High Court. He has been an advocate for Insurance Companies, District Panchayats, Municipalities, State Subordinate Services Selection Commission, Sitapur Eye Hospital etc.
• In May 2017, he became the Deputy Advocate General in the Uttarakhand High Court but left the post after some time.