Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 23: The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has stayed the suspension orders issued against Shifa Medical Centre and Florence Hospital under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
The suspensions imposed by the State Health Agency (SHA) on January 11, 2025, were challenged by both hospitals on the grounds of procedural lapses and violations of natural justice.
The suspensions were part of SHA crackdown on empanelled hospitals allegedly violating AB-PMJAY guidelines. Both Shifa Medical Centre and Florence Hospital were accused of coercing patients into paying additional charges and engaging in practices detrimental to the scheme’s objectives.
Staying the suspension against these hospitals, Justice Mohammad Yousuf Wani ordered, “subject to any vacation or modification upon the consideration of objections/arguments and till next date of hearing before the bench, operation of the suspension order bearing No. 03 SHA, J&K of 2025 dated 11.01.2025 is kept in abeyance”.
Earlier, assailing the suspension Advocate Arif Sikander Mir, representing the two hospitals, argued that the suspension orders and the preceding show-cause notices were fundamentally flawed. “The show-cause notice dated December 18, 2024, provided an unreasonably short period of two days for the hospitals to respond, violating principles of natural justice”, he submitted.
The counsel further contended that the suspension orders were issued by an incompetent authority under outdated rules and guidelines and emphasized their longstanding reputation for delivering quality healthcare.
Deputy Advocate General Hakim Aman Ali, appearing for the respondents, defended the suspension orders, citing multiple complaints of serious violations. The SHA alleged that both hospitals had demanded out-of-pocket payments from beneficiaries covered under the scheme, contrary to its guidelines.
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