The Delhi high court on Wednesday issued notices to a dozen reputed private hospitals of the city for their failure to comply with its previous order that free treatment be given to patients from economically weaker sections.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw issued notices to 12 hospitals, including the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital and St. Stephen’s Hospital, and sought their replies by August 30 on a plea seeking initiation of contempt of court proceedings against them for their failure to comply with the court’s March 22, 2007 order.