Court Directs U.P. Chief Secretary to Investigate Doctors' Private Practices and Expedite Hospital Infrastructure Projects
In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court has expressed grave concerns over the state of affairs at Moti Lal Nehru Medical College and its affiliated Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital in Prayagraj. The court highlighted two critical issues: medical professionals engaged in unauthorized private practices and prolonged delays in government-funded construction projects.
The court's attention was drawn to a First Information Report (FIR) lodged against Dr. Santosh Kumar Singh, an Associate Professor at the college, for performing surgeries at a private hospital where his wife is the director. This comes in the wake of allegations against Dr. Arvind Gupta, who was accused of similar practices, treating patients at a private nursing home despite a ban on private practice for government-employed medical staff.
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, presiding over the case, emphasized that the deterioration of the medical facilities was not due to a lack of government support but due to the actions of the medical professionals themselves. The court noted that these professionals are running a parallel medical industry, diverting patients from the government hospital to private setups.
Moreover, the court criticized the inefficiency of the U.P. Rajkiya Nirman Nigam Limited, responsible for the stalled construction of the Cardiology Department at Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital, which has been incomplete for over two decades. The court directed the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh to oversee a high-level enquiry into the practices of the medical staff and to monitor the progress of the construction projects.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for May 26, 2026, by which time the Chief Secretary is expected to report on the actions taken regarding both the medical malpractice and construction delays.
Bottom Line:
The Allahabad High Court expressed serious concerns over the deteriorating condition of Moti Lal Nehru Medical College and Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital due to the involvement of medical professionals in private practice, despite it being banned, and the prolonged delay in construction projects funded by the government.
Statutory provision(s): Public Interest Litigation (PIL), Medical Malpractice, Infrastructure Development, Administrative Oversight
