CUTTACK, Oct 16 - The Orissa High Court on Thursday took strong exception to the continuing lapses at Cuttack’s SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH), ranging from non-functional digital display boards to worrying gaps in open-heart surgery protocols. The bench of Justices S.K. Sahoo and V. Narasingh, hearing the matter suo motu, called for accountability and action before its next sitting on November 27.
Background
The ongoing proceedings stem from a 2020 public interest litigation initiated by the High Court’s Registrar (Judicial) over persistent deficiencies in Odisha’s premier government hospitals. Thursday’s sitting spanned a wide range of issues - from missing medical equipment and faulty hospital displays to open drains in Sishu Bhawan and poor accessibility for differently-abled students at Shailabala Women’s College.
Officials including Health Secretary Aswathy S (IAS), senior hospital administrators, and government advocates attended the hearing via hybrid mode. The court made it clear that routine assurances and slow files would no longer suffice.
Court’s Observations
Taking note of the non-functioning digital display boards at SCBMCH, the bench remarked that technical excuses were becoming repetitive. “It’s unacceptable that after spending over ₹11 lakh, the boards still lack basic power connection,” Justice Sahoo observed during the hearing. OCAC officials confirmed eight of ten boards were installed but idle due to the absence of integration with hospital software and electricity.
The bench directed the hospital superintendent to “arrange power and ensure the systems are functional within three weeks.” Health Secretary Aswathy S assured the court she would convene a joint meeting with OCAC and IT officials to fix the issue promptly.
The judges then turned their attention to open-heart surgery facilities at SCBMCH’s Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) department, where several deaths in recent years had raised alarm. An affidavit filed by Superintendent Prof. (Dr.) Goutam Kumar Satpathy detailed a new protocol - including a rapid response team, advanced training for staff, and a checklist for safe cardiac procedures.
But the court noted the lack of a time-bound plan. Justice Narasingh observed, “Without deadlines, these measures remain promises on paper.” The Health Department admitted that a shortage of cardiac surgeons and support staff had slowed progress but assured steps to bring expert teams from AIIMS Delhi and Kottayam Medical College for training and supervision.
Another affidavit from the Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL) outlined the lengthy procurement process for medical equipment - often stretching 6–9 months. The bench expressed dissatisfaction that no emergency purchase mechanism existed for critical cases, directing OSMCL’s Managing Director to “develop and present an expedited procurement model” before the next hearing.
Decision
Concluding the day’s marathon session, the High Court ordered specific follow-ups on each issue from installing digital boards and clearing open drains at Sishu Bhawan to improving accessibility for differently-abled students at Shailabala College. The court fixed November 27, 2025, as the next date to review compliance reports from the Health Department, OSMCL, and civic officials.
“The purpose of this exercise is not paperwork,” Justice Sahoo said before rising, “but ensuring that hospitals serve people with dignity and urgency.”
Case Title: Registrar (Judicial), Orissa High Court v. State of Odisha & Others
Case Type: Suo Motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL No. 2140 of 2020)
Date of Order: 16 October 2025
Next Hearing Date: 27 November 2025
