During a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the lack of healthcare services and shortage of doctors and paramedics in both union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, a division bench of the High Court directed the respective governments to present their stance in the next hearing.
Tribal Woman Gave Birth on the Road
A tribal woman gave birth to a child on the road in the Inderwal constituency of Kishtwar district, highlighting the poor healthcare services in the remote areas of both union territories. Expressing shock over the non-serious approach of the administrations, Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice M.A. Chowdhary gave Senior Advocate General S.S. Nanda and Deputy Solicitor General of India Vishal Sharma two weeks to take necessary action on the matter.
Governments Were to Respond by February 4
The court noted that on February 4, both governments were asked to respond within two days, but no reply was submitted. The bench also mentioned that during a recent visit to Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, they observed a patient being transferred from CD Hospital to GMC via the main road, reflecting the poor infrastructure in hospitals.
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Next Hearing Scheduled for March 24
The court sought suggestions from lawyers on connecting all hospitals with overhead bridges to facilitate easy patient transfer. Advocate S.S. Ahmed agreed to submit relevant suggestions and also proposed presenting a video recording of the incident where the tribal woman gave birth on the roadside in a remote village of Kishtwar.
The court has scheduled the next hearing on March 24, directing both union territory governments to present their stance on the issue.
