HC asks CS to act against pvt practice by SRN hosp docs

Rajesh Kumar Pandey/TNNPrayagraj: Observing that the condition of Swaroop Rani Nehru hospital, an attached hospital of Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Prayagraj has deteriorated not due to lack of funds and amenities but due to private practice of its doctors, the Allahabad high court has directed to place this matter before the chief secretary, who shall take appropriate action against all these defaulting persons and set up a high level enquiry against all the doctors who are indulging in private practice in the Moti Lal Nehru Medical College.Hearing a PIL, Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal observed, “It appears that the condition of the Moti Lal Nehru Medical College and the attached hospital Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital has deteriorated not because there is a shortage of funds or the amenities by the govt but it is the medical fraternity who is failing the object of the govt. The professors, associate professors and lecturers are practicing in private nursing homes and are running a parallel medical industry in the city of Prayagraj. These doctors are performing surgery and keeping the patients in private set up, who are transferred from the Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital”.While fixing May 26 as the next date of hearing, the court directed that by the next date of hearing, the chief secretary shall also intimate the court about the action the taken by him by setting up high level enquiry in the matter of Moti Lal Nehru Medical Hospital and its attached hospital Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital.The court also directed the chief secretary to monitor the progress of the various construction activities which are going on for the last 20 years in the Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital, which till date has not completed despite the funds having been released by the state govt.The court also directed the state counsel to apprise the court of the progress of the cabinet meeting regarding the transfer of land in favour of the Moti Lal Nehru Medical hospital.Accordingly, the court directed the registrar (compliance) of Allahabad HC to forward the copy of this order to the chief secretary, govt of UP, Lucknow, within 48 hours.During the course of hearing on May 4, pursuant to the earlier order of the court, Dr Vinod Kumar Pandey, the principal, Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Prayagraj appeared before the court and filed an affidavit.Besides, an affidavit on behalf of the special secretary, medical education, was also been filed, which the court took on record.The state counsel informed the court that no objection has been obtained from all the departments concerned for the transfer of land measuring 31,314 sqmt in favour of the Moti Lal Nehru Medical College,Prayagraj, and the matter would be placed soon before the council of ministers for their approval. He further informed the court that once the approval is obtained by the cabinet, the land would be transferred to the Moti Lal Nehru Medical College.The court also pulled up the UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam for not constructing two floors of cardiology department of Swaroop Rani Nehru hospital, the work for which was started in 2006.“This court is unable to understand that for last 20 years, the construction of two floors of cardiology department could not be undertaken by the UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam Limited. The functioning of the RajkiyaNirman Nigam Limited is pathetic, as it is unable to construct two floors of the cardiology department of the Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital attached to the Moti Lal Nehru Medical College”, the court added.The amicus curie also brought to the notice of the court, the FIR lodged on Apr 29, 2026 against one Dr Santosh Kumar Singh, associate professor, surgery department of Moti Lal Nehru Medical College and his wife, Elakshi Shukla. The FIR was lodged by Dr Manish Kumar Kesari. It was informed to the court that the wife of Dr Santosh Kumar Singh is the director of one Acura Hospital, which is a private nursing home, where the doctor concerned goes and performs surgery.Expressing serious concern over the said FIR, the court said, “The proceedings of the present PIL was started on an allegation that one Dr Arvind Gupta had treated his patient at private nursing home known asPhoenix Hospital though being a professor in the Moti Lal Nehru Medical College and private practice was banned. The FIR placed before the court reveals that Dr Santosh Kumar Singh, who is an associate professor in the Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, is running a private nursing home in the name of Acura Hospital, in which his wife is director. This is a matter of serious concern”.The court also expressed its concern that the district magistrate, Prayagraj, despite court’s order, has not submitting the report regarding private practice of govt doctors. “This is the second case which has come to the notice of the court. Earlier by the order of this court, an enquiry was set up and the district magistrate, Prayagraj was directed to enquire into the matter of private practice of the doctors, who are appointed as professors, associate professors and lecturers in the Moti Lal Nehru Medical College. It seems that the district magistrate has lost interest in the matter and has not submitted any report before this courttill date. The matter is becoming murkier day by day. The present case reveals the poor condition of the Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital as the doctors are not interested in keeping the patients there and want thepatients to be treated outside in their private set up”, added the court in its order dated May 4.