Shimla, May 13 The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Wednesday granted an interim stay on the shifting of Gynaecology OPD from Kamala Nehru Hospital to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla, amid protests by doctors and women's groups.
A division bench consisting of Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chandra Negi passed the interim order after hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Falma Chauhan, secretary of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), challenging the proposed shifting.
The court also sought a detailed response from the government on the issue.
The state government recently decided to shift the Gynecology OPD and certain other services of the 102-year-old Kamala Nehru Hospital to IGMC Shimla, maintaining that better facilities were available at IGMC.
The government's decision stirred up huge protests from local residents, women's organisations, doctors and opposition parties, who called it a conspiracy to weaken the historic hospital.
Arguing that the 102-year-old hospital had rendered valuable services to women and children, the counsel for the petitioners contended that the shifting would cause hardship to the patients.
The high court immediately stayed the shifting process.
It directed the health department to explain the rationale behind the proposal and also outline its benefits or disadvantages to patients.
Hailing the court's decision as a victory for people who have been protesting against the move for the last one month, AIDWA Secretary Falma Chauhan said, "We had to move high court in wake of the problems being faced by the women due shifting of the gynaecology OPD.
