PIL highlighting shortage of doctors in rural areas
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 12: In a significant order, Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Sindhu Sharma has directed Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education Department and Director Health Services Jammu to relieve the surplus staff within 15 days and made it clear that in case of non-compliance Director shall be personally held responsible and no salary shall be paid to the surplus staff after April 28.
These directions were passed in a Public Interest Litigation filed by RTI activist Balwinder Singh highlighting shortage of doctors in rural areas of the State.
After hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Rahul Raina, Supriya Chouhan and Mohd Zulkernain Choudhary appearing for the petitioner whereas Senior AAG H A Siddiqui for the State Government, the Division Bench further issued directions to the Director Health Services Jammu to file a status report with regard to the efficacy and utility of 15 Evening Clinics operating in Jammu city.
“In the status report to be filed within three weeks the Director shall disclose the complete detail of the doctors including para medical staff working in these Evening Clinics ever since their establishment”, the DB said, adding “the doctors who have completed two tenures of 2 years each shall be moved out from the Evening Clinics and shall be posted appropriately at the places where their services are required for the patient care”.
Senior AAG H A Siddiqui while referring to the status report filed by Principal Secretary, Health, submitted that information in tabulated form has revealed that in Jammu district, there are 49 surplus staff whereas in Doda there are 12, Kathua 15, Kishtwar 8, Poonch 5, Rajouri 12, Ramban 13, Samba 5, Reasi 3 and Udhampur 5.
He further submitted that as on 22nd February, 2019, overall sanctioned strength of Medical Officers, Consultants, Senior Consultants, Dental Surgeons and Consultant Dentistry is 2163 whereas the doctors in position are 1709 and vacant positions are 454.
“Recently State Government appointed more than 950 Medical Officers and services of more than 450 doctors were terminated as they failed to join within the stipulated period”, he further informed the High Court.
Upon this, the Division Bench directed the State Government to file a status report indicating the present position of the vacancies existing as on date.
Looking into the seriousness of the matter, the Division Bench directed the Principal Secretary, Health and Director Health Services Jammu to file a compliance report with regard to the directions passed today. The DB further directed the Registry to renotify the instant PIL on May 13, 2019.
While parting with the order in the instant PIL, Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur observed, “the Division Bench will constitute a committee of three members as per the directions of the Apex Court dated 31.10.2016, in the PIL titled “Vichar Kranti Manch International versus State of J&K” as to whether the private practice of doctors should be banned or not.
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