Bombay High Court Demands Central Government Explanation on AIIMS Nagpur Faculty Crisis
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has taken serious note of the ongoing faculty shortage crisis at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Nagpur, directing the Central government to provide a comprehensive response regarding the persistent vacancies that continue to plague the prestigious medical institution.
Judicial Intervention Following TOI Exposé
The court's intervention came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that was registered following a Times of India report published on January 2, 2026. The report had highlighted the alarming number of vacant positions across various AIIMS institutions nationwide, bringing the issue to judicial scrutiny.
A division bench comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Raj Wakode presided over the hearing, expressing concern over the repeated failure of recruitment attempts to fill critical faculty positions at AIIMS Nagpur.
Alarming Vacancy Statistics Revealed
According to information obtained under the Right to Information Act (RTI) and presented before the court, the situation at AIIMS Nagpur is particularly dire. Out of 373 sanctioned professor positions, a staggering 137 posts remain vacant, representing approximately 36.7% of the total faculty strength.
Court-appointed amicus curiae and senior counsel Jugal Kishore Gilda, assisted by Shaunak Kothekar, informed the bench that the recruitment process at AIIMS Nagpur has been ongoing for nearly one and a half years. Despite initiating the process five separate times, the vacancies have remained unfilled, indicating systemic issues in the hiring mechanism.
Impact on Healthcare Services and Medical Education
The faculty shortage has far-reaching implications that extend beyond administrative concerns. The court was informed that the vacancy crisis directly affects multiple critical areas including:
- Patient care quality and accessibility
- Surgical services and specialized treatments
- Intensive care unit operations
- Medical education standards and training
Gilda further submitted that AIIMS Nagpur faces several other administrative and functional challenges that compound the faculty shortage problem, creating a multifaceted crisis at the institution.
Government's Response and Court Directions
Representing the Central government, Mugdha Chandurkar presented a contrasting perspective, arguing that compared to some other AIIMS institutions, the Nagpur facility actually has relatively fewer vacancies. The government counsel also claimed that several positions had already been filled through ongoing recruitment efforts.
However, the bench remained unconvinced by these assertions and directed that all issues be formally documented in writing. The court specifically asked the amicus curiae to submit a detailed note within two weeks, comprehensively outlining the challenges and vacancies at AIIMS Nagpur.
The Central government was subsequently granted three weeks to file its official response to the court's concerns. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing after three weeks, indicating the judiciary's commitment to resolving this critical healthcare infrastructure issue.
Broader Implications for Medical Education
This case highlights a significant challenge facing India's premier medical education system. The persistent faculty vacancies at institutions like AIIMS Nagpur not only compromise healthcare delivery but also threaten the quality of medical education for future generations of doctors.
The Bombay High Court's intervention represents a crucial step toward addressing systemic issues in medical faculty recruitment and retention. As the case progresses, it is expected to shed light on the administrative hurdles that have prevented the filling of these critical positions despite multiple recruitment attempts over an extended period.
