Bombay High Court Takes Suo Motu Action on AIIMS Nagpur Faculty Vacancies
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court took suo motu cognisance on Wednesday. It addressed acute faculty vacancies at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Nagpur. The court ordered registration of the issue as a Public Interest Litigation. It observed the shortfall adversely affects healthcare delivery and medical education.
Court Acts on TOI Report Based on RTI Data
The court acted on a Times of India report published on January 2, 2026. The report relied on information obtained under the Right to Information Act. It revealed that 137 out of 373 sanctioned faculty posts at AIIMS Nagpur remained vacant. This data highlighted similar shortages across several AIIMS institutions nationwide.
Bench Notes Critical Vacancy Rate and Impacts
A division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode noted the vacancies. They constituted nearly 36.7% of the sanctioned strength at AIIMS Nagpur. The bench observed these vacancies continued for a prolonged period. It expressed concern that such a large shortage of professors and medical staff impacts patient care. Surgeries and intensive care services suffer. The quality of medical education also declines.
The court stated institutions like AIIMS must provide high-quality healthcare to citizens. Large-scale vacancies represent a matter of serious concern. They involve wider public interest.
Court Directs PIL Registration and Appoints Officials
Accordingly, the bench directed treatment of the news report as a PIL. It ordered formal registration. Senior counsel and former Chhattisgarh advocate general JK Gilda received appointment as amicus curiae. The court directed Adv Shaunakh Kothekar to prepare and file a petition. Adv Mugdha Chandurkar appeared for the Union government. Additional GP Deepak Thakare represented the State.
RTI Data Reveals Nationwide Staffing Crunch
RTI data compiled from 11 AIIMS across different states indicated a staffing crunch. Nearly four out of ten sanctioned faculty posts remained vacant. About 1,600 of 4,099 posts stood unfilled. This widespread shortage underscores systemic issues in medical education and healthcare infrastructure.
