J&K, Ladakh HC Criticizes Poor Healthcare Facilities, Seeks Response

According to State Times, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice MA Chowdhary expressed deep disappointment over the failure of the UT administrations to respond to fourteen suggestions submitted by Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed on November 25, 2024. The suggestions, based on expert opinions, outline measures to improve healthcare infrastructure, especially in remote areas. Despite being granted two weeks on December 17, 2024, to file a response, the UTs had not submitted any, reflecting what the court called a "non-serious approach" to public healthcare. 

"It is very strange that the basic amenities of health is being dealt with casually particularly in the rural areas of the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Providing of health facilities, which is basic need of the public, must be the priority of the government in a welfare State,” the bench observed.

The court reviewed the status of medical personnel across the UTs and found severe staff shortages. In the Jammu Division, only 726 out of 1,390 sanctioned Medical Officer posts are filled, leaving 664 vacancies. In Kashmir Division, 1,395 out of 1,467 sanctioned posts are occupied, leaving 72 vacant. Similarly, for Para-Medics, Jammu has 2,489 vacancies out of 6,868 sanctioned posts, while Kashmir faces a shortfall of 2,651 out of 8,628 posts.

The Division Bench also took note of recent deaths in Badhal, Rajouri, where 18 people reportedly succumbed to a mysterious illness. The court criticized the frequent practice of referring manageable cases to medical colleges in Jammu and Srinagar due to a lack of local doctors, which overburdens higher institutions. Furthermore, it condemned the trend of influential doctors securing urban postings, leaving rural areas underserved, which it noted could lead to avoidable deaths.

“In the backdrop of the aforesaid facts, this Court records its anguish over the health facilities in the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and the respondent-UT of Jammu and Kashmir is directed to take a holistic view of the matter, so as to ensure that the basic health facilities are made available to the people. The respondent, the Department of Health and Medical Education is expected to take a call on the creation of posts of Medical Officers/Dental Surgeons/Consultants and Para Medics in the health institutions across the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, particularly in the peripheral areas and also ensure that the posts already created are filled up on a fast track basis and the deployments/attachments made from the rural health institutions to the cities is stopped forthwith so that the people of rural areas get some solace, on their health issues," the bench stated.

Advocate Ahmed further highlighted that no recruitment for Dental Surgeons had been conducted in Jammu & Kashmir since 2012. He stressed the urgent need to increase posts, particularly in rural areas, to prevent elderly residents from having to travel long distances to Jammu and Srinagar for basic dental care. Representing Ladakh, DSGI Vishal Sharma informed the court that vacancies for Dental Surgeons had recently been filled in the region. However, the court directed him to submit a compliance report on the availability of specialist consultants, particularly in critical fields like cardiology and oncology, as residents of Leh and Kargil lack timely access to advanced medical care in major cities like Delhi and Chandigarh, reports the daily.

Following these serious observations, the Division Bench directed the Health and Medical Education Department of both UTs to file a response within four weeks, detailing steps taken to fill vacancies, create new medical posts, and implement the suggested improvements. The Registrar Judicial Jammu was instructed to forward copies of the order to the Chief Secretaries of both UTs. Given the matter's significance, the court scheduled the next hearing for March 5, 2025.