In a significant intervention, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Wednesday granted an interim stay on the state government’s controversial move to shift the Gynaecology OPD from the 102-year-old Kamala Nehru Hospital (KNH) to the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla. The decision comes following intense public outcry and month-long protests by healthcare professionals and women’s rights groups.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chandra Negi passed the interim order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Falma Chauhan, Secretary of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA). The court has directed the state government to provide a detailed response justifying the relocation and assessing its impact on patient care.
The state government recently moved to transfer the Gynaecology Outpatient Department and several other essential services from Kamala Nehru Hospital to IGMC, arguing that the latter offers superior medical facilities. However, this decision triggered widespread backlash from local residents, opposition parties, and medical staff.
The petitioners argued that Kamala Nehru Hospital is a historic institution that has provided specialized services to women and children for over a century. They contended that uprooting the OPD would not only create immense hardship for patients but also appeared to be a strategic move to weaken the heritage hospital’s standing.
During the proceedings, the counsel for the petitioners emphasized the “valuable services” rendered by the 102-year-old hospital and cautioned that the shift would disrupt critical healthcare access.
Taking note of these concerns, the High Court immediately stayed the shifting process. The Bench has asked the health department to submit a comprehensive report explaining:
- The specific rationale behind the proposal to move the OPD.
- The potential benefits of the move.
- The possible disadvantages or hardships that patients might face as a result of the relocation.
The stay order has been welcomed by activists who have been demonstrating against the government’s plan for several weeks. AIDWA Secretary Falma Chauhan described the court’s intervention as a major victory for the public.
“We had to move the High Court in wake of the problems being faced by women due to the shifting of the gynaecology OPD,” Chauhan stated, adding that the legal challenge was necessary to protect the interests of patients who rely on the hospital’s central location and specialized care.
The state government is now expected to present its defense in the next hearing, as the historic Kamala Nehru Hospital remains fully operational for now.
