PIL highlighting shortage of doctors/paramedics
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: A Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice Wasim Sadiq Nagral, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding shortage of doctors/paramedical staff in Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, expressed anguish over non-filing of status reports. The DB granted further two weeks time to do needful, failing which concerned officials of Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, may be liable to be directed to remain present in person before the Court on the next date of hearing.
This significant order has been passed in a much publicized PIL filed by RTI Activist Balwinder Singh wherein petitioner has sought directions to UT administration to provide duly sanctioned staff in all Health Institutions in Jammu Province as out of 259 PHCs, NPHCs and CHCs in hilly and remote areas of all Districts of Jammu province, 184 are running without doctors and lacking staff including the Medical Officers/Consultants and Para-Medical Staff in Sub-District Hospitals, District Hospitals of entire Jammu Province.
When PIL came-up for hearing, DB after hearing Adv Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the PIL observed that the Court vide order dated March 16, 2023 had granted time to ascertain as to when selection process in respect of 380 posts of Medical officers pending with Public Service Commission will be completed. Similarly, the State Government was also required to provide the details of the District-wise existing sanctioned staff position apart from the Medical Officers (Doctors) including Para Medical Staff working in the various Public Health Centers under the Health and Medical Education Department.
DB also directed Vishal Sharma, Deputy Solicitor General of India appearing for the UT of Ladakh to furnish the necessary information. DB observed that the said information is not coming forthwith and accordingly, granted further two weeks time to do the needful, by or before the next date, failing which concerned officials of Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, may be liable to be directed to remain present in person before Court on the next date of hearing.
It is worthwhile to mention here that on the last date of hearing, S S Nanda, Sr. AAG has informed the Court through affidavit filed on 14th March, 2023 that out of 708 posts Medical Officers which have been referred by the Health & Medical Education Department to Public Service Commission for selection of suitable candidates against post of medical officers, the PSC has furnished a selection list of just 328 selectees (Medical Officers).
DB is also of view that State Government should provide details of district-wise existing sanctioned staff position apart from Medical Officers (Doctors) including Para Medical Staff working in the various Public Health Centres under Health and Medical Education Department. DB also directed DSGI appearing for the UT of Ladakh to furnish the necessary information regarding Medical Officers (Doctors) as well as non-medical (Paramedical Staff) in all districts of Ladakh.