Shimla, Sep 21 (IANS): The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday issued notices to the central and state governments for not making ESIC Hospital and Medical College near Mandi town functional despite spending Rs.750 crore on its construction.

The court asked them to file reply within two weeks and listed the matter for next hearing on October 26.

A division Bench of Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed the orders on a petition of Yogesg Kumar Chandel.

Spread over an area of more than 31 acres on National Highway 21, the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) had already spent Rs.750 crore on the building and its infrastructure.

He said in March last year Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College building was to be inaugurated but till date it has not been made functional.

The petitioner further said now the ESCI has decided not to start the college.

"Now the state has to take over the ESCI Medical College but no final decision has been taken," he said.

The state has provided around 31 acres to the ESIC at a token lease of Re.1 for 99 years for the construction and starting of the hospital and the medical college.