SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on Tuesday voiced serious concern over the prolonged non-functioning of MRI and CT Scan machines in major government hospitals in Jammu and directed the Managing Director of JK Medical Supplies Corporation Limited to be impleaded as a respondent in the ongoing suo-moto Public Interest Litigation.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal passed the directions while hearing a suo-moto PIL titled Court on its Own Motion vs UT of JK, which was initiated following a media report highlighting the disruption of critical cardiac services due to shortage of life-saving cardiac implants, stents and other consumables.
During the proceedings, 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, while CT Scan machines at Super Specialty Hospital and SMGS Hospital had been non-functional for more than a year. He, however, said that the MRI machine at GMC Jammu has now been repaired and made operational, while orders for procurement of two new CT Scan machines for SMGS and Super Specialty Hospital have already been placed through the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation.
Taking note of the delay in procurement of the equipment, the bench directed that the Managing Director of JK Medical Supplies Corporation Limited be made a party in the case and asked him to appear through virtual mode during the next hearing. Senior AAG Monika Kohli accepted the notice on behalf of the officer in the court.
During the hearing, 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 HOD was allegedly practicing, and that an enquiry report had reportedly indicted the officer. However, no action had been taken so far.
Taking note of the submissions, the Division Bench directed that the matter be listed again on Wednesday for further hearing. (KNC)
