Srinagar, Jan 23: The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has stayed the suspension of Shifa Medical Centre and Florence Hospital under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
The suspensions, issued by the State Health Agency (SHA) on January 11, 2025, were challenged on the grounds of procedural lapses and denial of natural justice.
Justice Muhammad Yousuf Wani, ordered that the suspension be kept in abeyance until the next hearing on February 7, 2025.
The court directed the SHA to conduct a fresh inquiry, providing the hospitals with two weeks to respond to the show-cause notices dated December 18, 2024.
The hospitals had been accused of coercing patients into paying extra charges and violating scheme guidelines. While the SHA defended its actions, citing complaints and inspections, the court highlighted procedural irregularities and emphasised the need for fairness in disciplinary actions.
The court specifically instructed the respondents to provide both hospitals with a fresh opportunity of two weeks to submit their replies to the show-cause notice dated December 18, 2024, ensuring due process is followed.
The court observed that the hospitals must be given an adequate opportunity to respond to the allegations.
