HC takes suo motu cognisance on collapse of cardiac services at Jammu Super Speciality Hospital
Srinagar, Dec 9: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Tuesday initiated suo motu proceedings after taking cognisance of a news report highlighting a complete halt in cardiac procedures at the Government Super Speciality Hospital (GSSH), Jammu, due to suspension of life-saving medical supplies over unpaid dues under the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme.
Live Law reported that the development arose during the hearing of four long-pending Public Interest Litigations (PILs) concerning the strengthening of medical infrastructure in the capital cities and implementation of national guidelines for regulating private nursing homes and health centres.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal said that despite the filing of 15 status and compliance reports by the authorities, the issues involved remained unresolved for more than a decade.
Earlier, the court had requested Advocate S S Ahmed to assist as amicus curiae.
He informed the bench that he had examined all petitions along with the numerous orders passed over the years and sought time to compile the relevant material and submit a structured affidavit delineating the issues requiring adjudication.
However, the bench was compelled to intervene urgently after the amicus curiae drew its attention to a report stating that cardiac care services at GSSH had collapsed.
As per the report, suppliers of essential cardiac emergency devices – stents, pacemakers, balloons and Cath Lab consumables - had halted supplies due to unpaid dues nearing Rs 30 crore, resulting in a complete shutdown of the Cath Lab.
Expressing serious concern, the court recorded that the hospital generally performs around twenty-five cardiac procedures each day, but “owing to the current impasse, not a single heart-related intervention could be conducted throughout the day, placing vulnerable cardiac patients at serious risk.”
The bench said the situation was “highly sensitive” and warranted immediate judicial oversight.
The Court accordingly directed the Registrar (Judicial) to register a separate petition ‘Court on its own motion versus Nemo’ and place it before the bench the same day in public interest.
In view of the request made by the amicus curiae, further proceedings in the existing PILs were deferred to December 29, 2025.
