RTI exposes delay in implementing SC guidelines on Nurses’ wages in J&K

Kashmir Vision: Pulwama: Sunday, 29 March 2026.
An RTI disclosure has brought to light significant delays in the implementation of guidelines concerning the pay structure and working conditions of nurses in private hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir, despite clear directives from the Supreme Court of India.

The information surfaced following a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by social activist Shahid Shafi Rather, who also serves as Media Coordinator of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA).
The RTI sought details regarding the progress of a committee constituted by the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department in 2023 to address the issue.
According to official records, the Jammu and Kashmir government had issued Government Order No. 1031-JK(HME) of 2023 on December 12, 2023, forming a committee tasked with drafting guidelines on wages and working conditions for nurses employed in private hospitals and nursing homes. The panel was mandated to submit its report within 30 days.
However, the RTI response reveals that while the committee was indeed constituted, the matter still remains under consideration, with no final recommendations or guidelines issued so far. Earlier official replies attributed the delay to the transfer and retirement of some committee members, necessitating reconstitution. Despite this, the process continues to remain incomplete, raising concerns over administrative inefficiency and lack of accountability.
The issue holds particular importance in light of the landmark judgment delivered by the Supreme Court of India on January 29, 2016 (W.P. (C) No. 527/2011), which directed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to address long-standing grievances of nurses working in private healthcare institutions. Subsequently, a high-level committee was constituted at the national level, and all States and Union Territories, including J&K, were expected to implement its recommendations.
On the ground, however, the situation remains largely unchanged. Nurses in private hospitals across the Union Territory reportedly continue to receive meagre salaries, often ranging between ₹7,000 and ₹10,000 per month, while also working under challenging and demanding conditions—far below the standards recommended at the national level.
Expressing concern over the delay, Shahid Shafi Rather said that repeated committee formations without tangible outcomes have failed to protect the rights and dignity of nurses.
“Despite the passage of several years and the formation of committees, no concrete steps have been taken. Thousands of nurses continue to suffer due to inaction,” he said.
He further urged the government, particularly Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Masood Itoo and the Chief Minister, to intervene and expedite the process.
“We request the government to issue interim guidelines at the earliest to ensure uniform standards in healthcare and proper implementation of the Supreme Court’s directions,” he added.
The RTI findings have once again highlighted the urgent need for policy intervention, as prolonged delays continue to deny justice to a vital segment of the healthcare workforce in Jammu and Kashmir.