Jammu, Mar 11 (NVI): The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the prolonged non-functioning of MRI and CT Scan machines in key government hospitals in Jammu and directed the Managing Director of the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited to be impleaded as a respondent in an ongoing suo-moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
The directions were issued by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal while hearing a suo-moto PIL titled Court on its Own Motion vs UT of J&K, which was initiated following a media report highlighting disruption of critical cardiac services due to shortage of life-saving cardiac implants, stents and other consumables in government hospitals.
During the hearing, Principal Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, Dr Ashutosh Gupta, appearing through virtual mode, informed the court that the MRI machine at GMC Jammu had remained out of order for nearly two months. He further stated that CT Scan machines at the Super Specialty Hospital and SMGS Hospital had been non-functional for more than a year.
Gupta, however, told the court that the MRI machine at GMC Jammu has now been repaired and made operational. He added that orders for procurement of two new CT Scan machines for SMGS Hospital and Super Specialty Hospital have already been placed through the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited.
Taking note of the delay in procurement of the machines, the bench directed that the Managing Director of the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited be impleaded as a party in the case and asked him to appear through virtual mode during the next hearing. Senior Additional Advocate General Monika Kohli accepted notice on behalf of the officer before the court.
During the proceedings, Amicus Curiae Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed, assisted by Advocates Supriya Chouhan and Mohd Zulker Nain Choudhary, also raised the issue of alleged private practice by the Head of Department of Radio Diagnosis at GMC Jammu despite a ban on such practice by heads of departments in government medical colleges.
The court was informed that a communication from the Director Health Services Jammu to the administrative department had mentioned three private laboratories where the officer was allegedly practicing. It was also submitted that an enquiry report had reportedly indicted the officer, but no action had been taken so far.
Taking note of the submissions, the Division Bench directed that the matter be listed for further hearing on Wednesday. (NVI)
