Jharkhand HC seeks report within 10 days on facilities at RIMS, team to conduct inspection
Ranchi, Nov 20
The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday heard a public interest litigation (PIL) highlighting poor treatment facilities and inadequate infrastructure at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi -- the state’s largest government hospital and medical college.
The court directed the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) to constitute a committee and carry out a comprehensive on-site inspection of RIMS. The committee has been asked to submit a detailed report within 10 days.
According to the court’s directions, the JHALSA team will examine the ground reality of essential services at the hospital, including the availability of medicines, functioning of pathology units, the condition of the trauma centre, drinking water supply, sanitation, cleanliness, building maintenance, and other basic patient amenities.
The petitioner has been instructed to scrutinise, point-by-point, the affidavits filed by RIMS and the state government in response to the High Court’s earlier order dated October 10, 2025.
The court said the petitioner must present a comparative response in the form of a tabular chart, showing whether the improvements claimed in the affidavits have actually been implemented.
The division bench of Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad, after hearing submissions, posted the matter for further hearing on December 3.
The High Court has repeatedly expressed serious concern over the deteriorating condition of RIMS. Despite being the state’s premier multispeciality healthcare institution, the hospital continues to struggle with chronic staff shortages, outdated or insufficient medical equipment, neglected infrastructure, and frequent allegations of mismanagement and administrative apathy.
Patient complaints and media reports have frequently highlighted issues ranging from long waiting times and lack of sanitation to dysfunctional machines and overcrowding.
Alongside the suo motu case initiated by the court, a separate PIL filed by social activist Jyoti Sharma has also drawn attention to systemic issues at RIMS.
The petition seeks urgent corrective measures, including the appointment of more doctors, nurses, technicians, and Group D employees; procurement of essential machinery; and significant upgrades to overall healthcare services.
snc/skp/dan
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is long overdue. RIMS is supposed to be our premier hospital but functions like a district hospital. The trauma center especially needs urgent attention - it's the only major trauma facility in the region.
The tabular chart comparison is a brilliant move by the court. This will expose the gap between government claims and ground reality. Hope they follow through with strict action against officials responsible for this mess.
As someone who works in healthcare, I appreciate the court's detailed approach. Examining pathology units and medicine availability is crucial. But let's be honest - without proper funding and political will, even the best reports won't help.
The staff shortage is the biggest problem. My cousin works there as a junior doctor - they're overworked and underpaid. How can we expect quality healthcare in such conditions? Government needs to prioritize healthcare budget.
While I appreciate the court's intervention, I'm concerned this might become another bureaucratic exercise. We've seen so many committees and reports in the past with little improvement. Hope this time is different 🤞
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