PIL highlighting shortage of doctors/paramedical staff
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 3: In a Public Interest Litigation regarding shortage of doctors/paramedical staff in Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, a Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice Wasim Sadiq Nagral has expressed anguish over non-filing of status reports by both the UTs.
The DB, accordingly, granted further two weeks time to do the 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 court on the next date of hearing.
The PIL was filed by RTI activist Balwinder Singh wherein the petitioner has sought directions to the Government to provide duly sanctioned staff in all the Health Institutions in Jammu Province as out of 259 PHCs, NPHCs and CHCs in the hilly and remotest areas of Jammu Province, 184 of them are running without doctors and lacking the staff including the Medical Officers/Consultants and Para-Medical Staff.
DB, after hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the PIL, observed, “this court vide order dated 16.03.2023 granted time to ascertain as to when the selection process in respect of 380 posts of Medical Officers pending with the Public Service Commission will be completed. Similarly, the 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”. Even Vishal Sharma, Deputy Solicitor General of India appearing for the UT of Ladakh was directed to furnish the necessary information.
“The information is not coming forthwith and accordingly, we grant 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”, the DB said.
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