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NEW DELHI – The Delhi High Court has issued a stern directive to the city government, ordering it to expedite the recruitment process for a large number of vacant positions in state-run hospitals. Citing the critical importance of a fully staffed medical workforce for effective healthcare management, the court has mandated that recruitment for nursing and paramedical staff, among other roles, proceed without delay.
The order, issued by a bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, emphasized that the appointment of these staff members is “absolutely crucial” given the significant increase in patient load since many of the hospitals were first built. The court’s observations were made in connection with a suo moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initiated in 2017 following a rise in incidents of violence against doctors, a problem often linked to understaffing and overwhelmed facilities.
The court also expressed “serious concerns” over 24 semi-constructed hospital projects where work has stalled. It directed the Delhi government to constitute a committee of technical experts to assess the situation and present a plan with clear timelines for completing the projects. The Health Secretary has been ordered to appear before the court to provide an updated status report on the progress made.
The directive covers the immediate advertising of vacancies for posts such as Audiometric Assistant, Occupational Therapist, and Physiotherapist. Furthermore, the court has previously ordered the government to fill numerous other positions, including 114 specialist doctors, 762 paramedics, and 701 nursing staff. It also clarified that until newly created posts are filled through regular appointments, the respective medical superintendents are authorized to hire staff on a contractual basis.
Disclaimer: This article is a journalistic report based on court proceedings and public records. It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice.
Reference:
- Live Law. “Recruitment Of Nursing Officers/ Para-Medical Staff Absolutely Crucial For Health Management In Delhi Govt Hospitals: High Court.” Live Law, 11 Aug. 2025, https://www.livelaw.in/high-court/delhi-high-court/recruitment-of-nursing-officers-para-medical-staff-absolutely-crucial-for-health-management-in-delhi-govt-hospitals-high-court-300563.
