“If Every State Should Have AIIMS, Why None In Kerala Yet?”: Kerala High Court Asks Centre

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (11 March) asked the Union Government on the criterion applied for the purpose of prioritizing the establishment of AIIMS.The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. was considering writ petitions seeking establishment of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).“In 2014 the Central government asked every State to specify sites where AIIMS needs to be….The matter is pending before the Central government for almost 10 years..The Joint Secretary was here and she is saying that it is a policy decision of the Government…you see that Union of India is of the view that every State should have an AIIMS and in the affidavit, it has been disclosed that 22 States have .. out of which 18 are functional and four are under construction. ..Despite this being said in 2014 why no steps are being taken as far as the State of Kerala is concerned and yes of course they say it is a Government policy decision.. But what Policy? Your policy is that every State should have an AIIMS. Then what criterion you are applying for the establishment of AIIMS” the Court urged.The Court had earlier in an order dated 27 March 2025, directed the Government of India to depute a feasibility study team in order to ascertain whether the sites selected by the State are suitable for establishment of AIIMS. Subsequently, another order dated 04.02.2026 was issued with similar directions but no feasibility study was conducted.Today, when the matter was taken up Ankita Mishra, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was present online. After a brief interaction the limitations of the Ministry in the establishment of AIIMS was submitted before the Court. The Court thus sought the stand of the Union of India in the matter.The Court noted that despite the State identifying the land for the establishment of AIIMS, there has been no progress as to the establishment. “What is the present situation? We want to know what criteria the Union of India is applying for selecting a State over the other for the time being and what is fate of AIIMS alone ..Will it come up or doesn't come up” Court asked the UnionThe court thus directed the Deputy Solicitor General of India, representing the Centre to get instructions regarding the criterion adopted by the Centre in establishing the AIIMS. The matter is posted after two weeks for further consideration. (a detailed order is awaited)Case Title: AIIMS Kasargod Janakeeya Koottayma v Union of India and Ors. and connected caseCase No: WP(C) 18550/ 2024Counsel for Petitioner: K K Subeesh, Roy Thomas, P M Ziraj, Irfan ZirajCounsel for Respondent: S Biju (Sr. Panel Counsel), O M Shalina (DSGI), C Dinesh, P U Shailajan (SC-KSIDC)Click Here To Read/ Download Interim Order Dated 27.03.2025Click Here To Read/ Download Interim Order Dated 04.02.2026

“If Every State Should Have AIIMS, Why None In Kerala Yet?”: Kerala High Court Asks Centre

Anamika MJ

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