Jammu, March 12: Some HODs are involved in Private Practice despite Govt's clear cut ban in the year 2013 but Govt not bothered to act for non compliance of its own orders.
However, now, A Division Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at Jammu comprising the Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal has taken serious note of some documents placed on record by the Amicus Currie Advocate S.S. Ahmed which includes a copy of a communication No. DSHJ/PNDT/10523-24 dated October 28th, 2025 whereby Director, Health Services, Jammu intimated the Principal, Govt. Medical College, Jammu and Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. of J&K, Health & Medical Education Department regarding a complaint against HoD, Department of Radio Diagnosis, GMC, Jammu wherein the said Senior Doctor has been accused of engaging himself in private practice by regularly visiting and providing his services at three private Diagnostic Centres, two in Jammu District and one in District Reasi.
The documents also include a copy of the Inquiry Report dated May 22nd, 2024 submitted to the Principal, GMC, Jammu by a Five-Member Committee headed by a Professor of Surgery, GMC, Jammu in the capacity of the Chairman of the Inquiry Committee.
When this much publicized PIL registered Suo Moto by the High Court titled Court on its own Motion V/s Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. Health & Medical Education Department & Ors. came up for hearing, Amicus Currie Advocate S.S. Ahmed informed the Division Bench that he has filed certain documents which establishes that HoD, Department of Radio Diagnosis, GMC, Jammu is involved in private practice dehors the norms and the Govt. Order No.43-HME of 2013 dated 17.01.2013.
After considering the submissions of Advocate S.S. Ahmed with Advocate Supriya Chouhan, the Division Bench issued notice in the matter which was accepted in the open court by Sr. AAG Monika Kohli and she prayed for a short accommodation to seek instructions in the matter.
Advocate S.S. Ahmed as Amicus Currie highlighted that HoD, Department of Radio Diagnosis, GMC, Jammu is involved in private practice despite Imposition of Ban by the Govt. of J&K way back in January, 2013.
During the course of proceedings pursuant to Order dated March 10th, 2026, Tariq H. Ganai, Managing Director, J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd.(JKMSCL) joined the proceedings before the Division Bench online.
The said Officer submitted that the purchase orders as regards 07 CT Scan 128 Slice were issued in April, August and December, 2025 respectively; and, out of these machines, four have to be installed in different hospitals in Jammu, whereas rest three in Srinagar Province.
The MD, J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd. further submitted that the scheduled date of delivery of these machines at Mumbai Port is March, 2026.
He further submitted that he joined the Corporation three months back, every possible endeavour is being made to ensure that no time is lost in installing these machines post delivery.
At any rate, he prayed for a short accommodation to furnish a specific Affidavit as regards the precise date of delivery of these machines and the time that would be required to make them operational.
The Principal, GMC, Jammu Dr. Ashutosh Gupta who had also joined the proceedings through virtual mode also apprised the Division Bench that the dysfunctional MRI Machine at GMC, Jammu has been made functional and patients are now availing the facility.
SSP, Jammu Joginder Singh also joined the proceedings through virtual mode whereas R.S. Chowdhary, Sub Inspector/In-Charge, Police Post, GMC, Jammu was present in person.
Looking into the importance of the matter, the Division Bench posted the matter for further proceedings on April 7th, 2026.
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