Shimla, May 13
In a major relief to women’s organisations and residents of the state capital, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Wednesday issued an interim stay on the Himachal Pradesh government’s decision to shift the gynaecology OPD and several other services of Kamla Nehru Hospital (KNH) to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC).
The interim order was passed by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chandra Negi while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Falma Chauhan, state convener of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA).
The court sought a detailed reply from the state government and the Health Department on the reasons behind the proposed shifting and the possible impact of the move on women patients and healthcare services.
The state government had recently decided to shift the gynaecology OPD and some other facilities of KNH to IGMC, maintaining that IGMC has better infrastructure and advanced medical facilities, including specialised treatment systems. However, the decision sparked sharp opposition in Shimla and other parts of the state.
Residents, women’s groups, civil society organisations and opposition parties described the move as a conspiracy to weaken one of the oldest and most trusted women and child healthcare institutions in Himachal Pradesh. Protest demonstrations were organised outside IGMC and other places, demanding immediate rollback of the decision.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners argued that the 102-year-old Kamla Nehru Hospital holds immense historical and social importance for women and children across the state.
The petitioners submitted that separating and shifting the services would inconvenience thousands of patients, particularly women coming from remote and rural areas, who currently receive integrated treatment under one roof at KNH.
The petition further contended that shifting the OPD would adversely affect poor patients, create confusion in treatment procedures and ultimately damage the independent identity of the hospital, which has developed over decades as a specialised mother and child healthcare centre.
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Women’s organisations welcomed the High Court intervention and termed it a major victory for public healthcare and women’s rights. They maintained that KNH should instead be strengthened with modern facilities, including robotic surgery and IVF services, within its own campus rather than dismantling its existing structure.
The organisations also alleged that the move reflected an increasing trend towards commercialisation and privatisation of public healthcare, accompanied by rising medical charges that could place treatment beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Sources in the Health Department said the government is preparing a comprehensive response to justify the decision before the High Court. Meanwhile, the interim stay has temporarily halted the shifting process until further orders from the court.
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