DB seeks Personal Appearance of Principal GMC, Jammu & XEN, Div. Bakshi Nagar
Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu: DD, In a significant order, a Division Bench of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh at Jammu comprising the Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal while hearing the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL No. 16/2018) filed by renowned RTI Activist S. Balwinder Singh sought the personal appearance of the Principal, Govt. Medical College, Jammu and the Executive Engineer PW(R&B) Department, Division Bakshi Nagar, Jammu on next date of hearing i.e. 01-05-2025
When this PIL came up for consideration, the Division Bench in the open Court perused the Status Report dated April 28th, 2025 filed by Chief Engineer PW (R&B) Department, Jammu pursuant to Division Bench order dated April 8th, 2025 with regard to the preparation of proposal/DPR for connecting Govt. Medical College, Jammu with other Associated Hospitals, across the road, for safe passage of patients, doctors and para-medics, having regard to the repeated communications addressed by the Principal & Dean, Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu to the PW(R&B) Department from 12-06-2023 to 04-03-2025.
Sr. AAG S S Nanda on the basis of the Status Report submitted that vide communication dated April 12th, 2025, the Executive Engineer, PW (R&B) Department, Division Bakshi Nagar had requested the Principal, GMC Jammu to convene a meeting with respect to preparation of DPR for the proposed over-bridge or underpass which shall connect the Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu with other Associated Hospitals, Jammu.
Sr. AAG S S Nanda further submitted that Principal GMC, Jammu convened a meeting on April 17th, 2025 and it was unanimously decided to engage a Consultant specialized in a field of Transport Infrastructure and Hospital connectivity. The status report further mentioned that the Executive Engineer PW(R&B) Department, Division Bakshi Nagar, Jammu has received a quotation for survey work with the tune of Rs. 13.95 Lacs and has requested the Principal Government Medical College, Jammu for necessary approval of the amount to be provided so that consultancy for the proposed work could be initiated.
The Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice Arun Palli after going through the Status Report in the open Court put a specific query to Senior AAG S S Nanda as to how much time will be consumed for accomplishing the entire project for providing over-head bridge/underpass for connecting GMC, Jammu with other Associated Hospitals. Upon this, Sr. AAG S S Nanda replied in the open Court that he needs time to report instructions in the matter.
The Division Bench looking into the importance of the matter particularly the Patient Care and the public interest involved in the matter, sought the personal appearance of the Principal GMC, Jammu and the Executive Engineer PW(R&B) Department, Bakshi Nagar, Jammu before the Division Bench on May 1st, 2025.Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Rahul Raina and Supriya Chouhan appeared for the petitioner whereas DSGI Vishal Sharma alongwith Advocate Sumant Sudan appeared for UT of Ladakh.DD
