Himachal HC seeks government reply on KNH Shimla shifting decision
Shimla, Updated on May 14,
The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Wednesday sought a detailed response from the state government and the Health Department over the controversial decision to shift the gynaecology OPD and several other services of the 102-year-old Kamla Nehru Hospital (KNH), Shimla, to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC).
Though no written interim order had been issued till the filing of this report, petitioner Farma Chauhan and other women’s organisations termed the High Court’s intervention a major relief, saying the matter has now come under judicial scrutiny amid widespread public concern.
According to Chauhan, state convener of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), the matter was heard by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chandra Negi on a public interest litigation filed against the proposed shifting of services from KNH.
The court reportedly questioned the rationale behind the decision and asked the state government to explain the circumstances under which the shifting was proposed, along with its likely impact on women patients and healthcare delivery.
The Himachal Pradesh government had recently decided to shift the gynaecology OPD and some other facilities of KNH to IGMC, maintaining that IGMC possesses superior infrastructure and advanced medical systems for specialised treatment. However, the move triggered sharp opposition from residents, women’s groups, civil society organisations and opposition parties across Shimla and other parts of the state.
Protests were organised outside IGMC and elsewhere, with demonstrators alleging that the move could weaken one of Himachal Pradesh’s oldest and most trusted women and child healthcare institutions.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners argued that Kamla Nehru Hospital carries immense historical and social significance for women and children in the state. The petitioners contended that shifting and separating services would inconvenience thousands of patients, especially women arriving from rural and remote areas who currently receive integrated treatment facilities under one roof.
The petition further argued that the move could create confusion in treatment procedures and gradually erode the independent identity of KNH as a dedicated mother and child healthcare institution built over decades.
Women’s organisations welcomed the court proceedings and reiterated their demand that KNH should instead be strengthened with modern facilities, including advanced surgical and fertility treatment systems, within its existing campus rather than witnessing fragmentation of services.
The organisations also alleged that the move reflected a larger trend of commercialisation and gradual privatisation of public healthcare services.
Sources in the Health Department said the government is preparing its response to justify the proposed shifting decision before the High Court, which will now examine the issue in detail in the coming hearings.
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