Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 30: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has sought fresh affidavits from the Health and Medical Education Department and Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited regarding the installation and commissioning of CT Scan machines at different hospitals across the Union Territory.
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A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal passed the order in a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning healthcare facilities. The matter has now been adjourned to May 14, 2026.
During the hearing, the court was informed that an inquiry had been ordered against Dr Vipan Mangotra, Professor and Head of Department, Radio-diagnosis, Government Medical College, Jammu, following allegations that he was engaged in private practice in violation of norms and Government Order No. 43-HME of 2013.
The Government informed the court that a fact-finding inquiry had been ordered on March 27, 2026, and Akriti Sagar, Special Secretary to Government, was appointed as Inquiry Officer. Senior AAG submitted that the inquiry was still in progress and was likely to be concluded within a week, after which appropriate action would be taken by the authorities.
The court was also apprised about the status of CT Scan machines. As per the affidavit filed by JKMSCL, machines for District Hospital Budgam and District Hospital Poonch had been delivered, while installation was expected to be completed shortly. The court was further informed that CT Scan machines for SMGS Hospital Jammu, SMHS Hospital Srinagar, Super Specialty Hospital Srinagar, Chest Disease Hospital Jammu and Super Specialty Hospital Jammu were at different stages of delivery or installation.
Appearing online, Mohd Ashraf Chowdhary, General Manager (Administration), JKMSCL, submitted that the machines for DHS Kashmir and DH Budgam were under installation and would be operative within a week. Regarding DHS Jammu and DH Poonch, he submitted that machines had been installed and were likely to become functional within the same period.
For SMGS Hospital Jammu, the court was informed that the machine had been delivered on April 10, 2026, and two weeks were required for civil works and installation. As regards Chest Disease Hospital Jammu, SMHS Hospital Srinagar and Super Specialty Hospital Jammu, the authorities stated that the matter had been taken up with Japan-based vendors and the machines were expected to be delivered in the first week of June.
The bench granted two weeks’ time to the respondent departments and the Corporation to file fresh affidavits indicating actual progress on the ground. The court also directed the Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu, to ensure filing of the necessary affidavit regarding the ongoing inquiry/investigation.
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