Paramedical staff crucial for health management: Delhi HC directs immediate recruitment

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed the city government to speed up the recruitment of nursing officers, paramedical staff, and specialist doctors to strengthen healthcare services in the capital. The court said appointments must be made immediately after results are declared, without waiting for the completion of recruitment for other posts.

The court was reviewing status reports showing that over 1,507 nursing officers and 44 posts of paramedical staff have already been selected, with postings underway, while 770 of the paramedical positions have been advertised and the examination process for recruitment of the same is under process.

Among them, some posts, such as audiometric assistants, assistant security officers, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists, had their advertisements cancelled. As a result, the court ordered these to be reissued and asked the government to provide the reasons for the cancellation of these posts.

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While passing the order, a division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora observed, "The recruitment of these staff is absolutely crucial for the health management in hospitals in Delhi. The process of recruitment shall thus be undertaken without any impediment and as and when the results are declared, after completing the necessary formalities, the appointment shall be done on a post-to-post basis without waiting for the recruitment in the other post."

The matter came up during a hearing on Friday on the city’s healthcare infrastructure. The court reviewed status reports filed in May and July this year, detailing recruitment drives and other healthcare initiatives.

According to the status reports, the Delhi government is in the process of implementing the NIC NextGen e-Hospital software, recruiting over 1,500 nursing officers and hundreds of paramedical staff through the DSSSB, with results expected between April and December 2025, appointing full-time HoDs for government hospitals, opening Jan Aushadhi Kendras in 29 hospitals, expanding Ayushman Bharat health coverage to include ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, senior citizens above 70, and treatment for non-trauma emergencies and starting DNB courses in Emergency Medicine at Lok Nayak Hospital, with more courses planned.

The case was taken as a suo-moto PIL by the court after repeated incidents of violence against doctors, which the court linked to overworked medical staff. It had earlier pointed out that although patient numbers had grown sharply since many hospitals were built, the number of doctors and specialists had not been increased to match the demand.

Alongside recruitment, the court also raised serious concerns over 24 government hospital projects that remain semi-constructed, where no work is being undertaken.

In response, the Delhi government counsel submitted that with the change of Government, it has been suggested that a committee of technical experts should be constituted to examine the entire issue and available infrastructure and suggest a way forward to complete the projects with all facilities.

The Court also took note of a status report dated 26th May, 2025, which records that the Review Committee has been constituted to give a detailed report in respect of the construction of all these hospitals.

However, the court said that since more than two months have passed since the said status report was filed, it is expected that substantial progress would have been undertaken.

Accordingly, the Court thus directed the government to submit an updated status report before it on the next date of hearing, i.e on August 22. It also ordered Delhi's Health Secretary to appear in Court on the next date, either physically or virtually.

To view the official order, click on the link below:

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