Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Apr 30: Despite stiff opposition from certain Congress quarters, the State Government has strengthened its efforts to revert land, management and assets of the prestigious Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar to the Sher-i-Kashmir National Medical Institute Trust, which was taken by the previous Coalition Government headed by the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
Though several ministers of the National Conference – Congress coalition were hesitant to comment on the subject, reliable sources told EXCELSIOR, “the State Government had also formed a Sub-Committee to study the matter in depth and the Committee had directions to come up with a favourable solution before August”.
“The matter had also been listed before the Supreme Court recently and the State Government through its counsel had submitted a Special Leave Petition (Civil) bearing No. 7804/2006 before the Division Bench that Cabinet had formed a Sub-Committee to look into the issue”, sources in Health Department said.
“The State Government through its counsel has also categorically submitted before the Apex Court bench that the case may also be deferred till the month of August”, sources said adding, “Cabinet is hopeful of finding a solution to the issue before the next hearing of the Court”.
Earlier, in February this year the State Cabinet had also discussed the proposal to cancel the decision taken in 2003 by the then Government headed by Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed whereby the management of SKIMS was taken over by the Government. “However, some Congress Ministers had opposed the decision as a result of which the agenda pertaining to this subject had to be deferred”, sources stated.
It is pertinent to mention that in 2003, the Cabinet under the chairmanship of then Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had ordered revocation of Government Order No. 214-ME of 1976 dated 27.08.1976 and Government order No. Rev (NDK) 90 of 1978 dated 19.04.1978 and taken over the possession of the land, assets and management of Kashmir Nursing Home, Gupkar Road, Srinagar and full management of the affairs of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura and any other institute affiliated with it.
The Cabinet had also ordered taking over the legal possession of the property situated at Kothibagh, Srinagar (Dr. Ali Jan Shopping Complex) over which the State Government asserts the lawful title and claims as real owner thereof vis-à-vis those, who had raised the construction thereon and were in physical possession.
Besides, the Cabinet had referred the matter to the Vigilance Organisation for investigating the transfer of the land by the trustees of Sher-i-Kashmir National Medical Institute Trust to the parties concerned.
The Trustees had fought a long battle against the Government decision. The State High Court however refused to quash the decision of the Cabinet, forcing the trustee to move Supreme Court.
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Taj Mohi-ud-din when contacted said, “the issue is pending before the State Cabinet and no decision had been taken yet”.
Counsel for State Government, who had pleaded the case in Supreme Court said, “the matter had been adjourned by the Division Bench and we had urged the Apex Court to list it in the month of August as Cabinet has already appointed a Sub-Committee to look into the matter”.
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