The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has expressed strong displeasure over inadequate healthcare facilities in both Union Territories, particularly in rural areas. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice M.A. Chowdhary criticized the failure to file a response to 14 healthcare improvement suggestions submitted by Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed on behalf of petitioner Balwinder Singh.
The court noted that many medical officers posted in rural health institutions secure urban transfers, leaving remote areas underserved. It also highlighted the acute shortage of medical staff, revealing 664 vacancies for Medical Officers and 2,489 for Para Medics in Jammu Division alone. Similar shortages persist in Kashmir Division.
Advocate Ahmed emphasized that no recruitment for Dental Surgeons has occurred since 2012, forcing rural residents to travel long distances for dental care. The court directed the government to prioritize healthcare in peripheral areas, ensuring recruitment and stopping unauthorized staff transfers.
Acknowledging the recent filling of Dental Surgeon vacancies in Ladakh, the court directed authorities to submit a compliance report detailing the availability of critical specialists like cardiologists and oncologists in Leh and Kargil.
With delays in responding to the 14 healthcare suggestions, the court gave the Health & Medical Education Department four weeks to file an affidavit outlining steps taken to address staffing shortages and healthcare improvements. The case is scheduled for further hearing on March 5, 2025. [KNT]
