A division bench of the Delhi High Court on Tuesday imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on the Apollo Hospital for not providing free treatment to poor patients.

"The hospital has made a complete mockery (of agreement) by not providing free treatment to the poor people,'' said the HC.

Chief justice A P Shah and justice Manmohan noted that the hospital chain had on March 11, 1988, entered a lease agreement with the Delhi government to provide free "medical, diagnostic and other necessary care to 40 per cent of patients in its outpatient department."

The High Court has asked the Apollo Hospital to reserve at-least 200 beds for the poor patients.

Moreover, it also directed the hospital from imposing any kind of charges from the poor, even for any tests.

Apart from this, the Delhi High Court also asked the government of Delhi to direct all its hospitals to come up with a referral centre for sending poor patients for free treatment at Apollo Hospital.