DB directs Personal Appearance of Principal Secy PW(R&B) & Principal GMC Jammu
Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu: DD, A Division Bench of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh comprising the Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal (through Virtual mode) while expressing its displeasure over the slow pace of the proposed construction of Over Bridge/Under Pass for connecting GMC Jammu with the Associated Hospitals, the Division Bench directed the personal appearance of Principal Secretary to Govt. of J&K, PW(R&B) Department and Principal Government Medical College, Jammu on the next date of hearing and both these officers have been directed to join the proceedings online.
When this much publicised PIL filed by a renowned RTI Activist Balwinder Singh came up for hearing, the Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice Arun Palli observed that the petition at hand, which is being tried in public interest, is pending since 2018 and in the interregnum, numerous orders have been passed by this Court from time to time. The Division Bench further observed and referred to the latest status report dated August 6, 2025 furnished by the Executive Engineer PW(R&B) Department reveals that the matter was taken up by the higher authorities for necessary approval/sanction but the subject DPR was found to be incomplete [being without drawings/ technical note (Brief history and necessity)], meaning thereby, the matter has not made any tangible progress.
The Division Bench under these circumstances while expressing its anguish observed and directed, “That being so, the Court is choiceless but to direct Principal Secretary to Government, PW(R&B) Department, Civil Secretariat, Srinagar/Jammu and Principal Government Medical College, Jammu to join the proceedings online on the adjourned date i.e. 06.11.2025.”
It is worthwhile to mention herein that an application (CM No.1400/2025) was moved by petitioner Balwinder Singh on 10.03.2025 seeking appropriate directions to the Chief Engineer PW(R&B) Department, Jammu to place before the Court DPR of the proposed Over Bridge or Under Pass which will connect GMC Hospital, Jammu with the Bone and Joint Hospital, Chest Diseases Hospital, Psychiatric Hospital and Upcoming New Critical Care Block Hospital within the premises of CD Hospital in order to ferry the patients and medical personnel safely
Advocate S.S. Ahmed with Advocates Supriya Chouhan and M. Zulkarnain Chowdhary appeared for the petitioner whereas DSGI Vishal Sharma appeared for UT of Ladakh and Advocate Saliqa Sheikh appeared vice Sr. AAG S S Nanda for the Govt. of J&K in this PIL.DD
