Indicate Steps Taken To Address Shortage Of Medical Officers, Staff In Jammu & Kashmir: High Court To Govt

The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has sought a report from the UT administration indicating the steps taken to address the critical shortage of Medical Officers and staff in the region.

The direction to this effect was passed by a bench of Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh & Justice M A Chowdhary while hearing a PIL filed in 2018 by RTI Activist Balwinder Singh alleging acute shortage of Medical officers and Paramedical Staff in various Health Institutions of J&K, particularly in remote areas of Jammu Province.

The PIL is based on information obtained under RTI Act wherein it has been disclosed that in several Districts of Jammu Province, there is a sixty to seventy percent short fall of Doctors and Paramedical staff.

During the hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed along with Advocates Rahul Raina, Supriya Chouhan, and Mohd Zulkarnain Chowdhary, brought the Court's attention to the recent status report filed by the Health and Medical Education Department, J&K. The report contained a comparative statement highlighting the availability of Doctors and Paramedical Staff in the Jammu and Kashmir provinces.

According to the status report signed by the Deputy Secretary to Health Department on May 29, there is a significant difference in staff strength in both divisions. In Jammu Division, out of the total sanctioned strength of 1,390 Medical Officer posts, only 726 are currently occupied, leaving a staggering 664 vacancies. Similarly, in the case of non-gazetted and Class IV Employees in Jammu Division, there are 2,489 vacant positions out of the sanctioned 6868 posts.

In contrast, Kashmir Division seem to have a more favourable situation with 1,395 Medical Officers currently in position out of the total sanctioned strength of 1,467. However, there are still 72 vacancies. For non-gazetted and Class IV Employees in Kashmir Division, 5,976 out of 8,628 sanctioned posts are filled, while 2,651 positions remain vacant.

This "skewed figure" raised concerns in the court, prompting it to direct the authorities to take necessary steps to fill up the vacancies in both provinces. The bench specifically sought detailed information on the measures being taken in far-flung areas like Reasi, Poonch, Ramban, Kupwara, Baramulla, etc., where the shortage appears to be even more significant.

The matter has been posted again on August 28.

Case Title: Balwinder Singh Vs State of J&K

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