'Why was operation theatre shut': Government orders probe into GMC Srinagar closure of OT, emergency services

July 26, 2025 by News Desk

The Jammu Kashmir Government has appointed a senior officer to conduct an enquiry into the recent law and order incident at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, which resulted in the abrupt closure of Operation Theatres (OTs) on July 23.

According to Government Order No. 506-JK(HME) of 2025, issued on July 25, Shri Baseer ul Haq Chaudhary (IAS), who serves as Mission Director, National Health Mission J-K, has been named the Enquiry Officer to lead the investigation.

The move comes amid mounting concern over disruptions to medical services and allegations of mismanagement at one of Kashmir’s premier medical institutions.

The order directs the Enquiry Officer to conduct an “objective and comprehensive examination” of the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.

This includes assessing the events that led to the breakdown of law and order, identifying immediate triggers, and reviewing the sequence of developments that unfolded thereafter.

One of the key mandates of the enquiry is to investigate the reasons behind the “closure of Operation” theatres and assess whether the shutdown was avoidable.

The officer has also been tasked with fixing responsibility on individuals, if found guilty of dereliction of duty or violation of established medical protocols.

In addition, the Enquiry Officer is expected to recommend corrective measures to improve internal grievance redressal, strengthen administrative coordination, and ensure the institution’s smooth functioning.

Preventive and remedial steps to avoid such disruptions in the future are also to be proposed.

Shri Mohammad Ashraf Hakak (JKAS), Administrator of Associated Hospitals, GMC Srinagar, has been designated as the Presenting Officer for the case.

The enquiry report is to be submitted to the government within fifteen days from the issuance of the order.

The directive comes amid heightened tensions at GMC Srinagar, where recent days have seen doctors, attendants, and journalists clashing over conflicting narratives, further compounding the chaos.

The government’s intervention appears aimed at restoring order and accountability in the functioning of the healthcare institution.