Court asks Union government to clarify criteria for selecting AIIMS locations and why Kerala still lacks the premier institute
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala High Court has asked the Government of India to explain the delay in establishing an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the state, despite the Centre’s policy of setting up at least one such premier medical institute in every state.
The court also sought details about the criteria used by the central government to determine the locations of AIIMS institutes across the country.
Petition Seeks AIIMS in Kasaragod
The issue came up during the hearing of a petition filed by AIIMS Kasaragod Janakeeya Kootayma, a citizens’ collective that has been demanding urgent steps to establish an AIIMS in Kasaragod district.
During the proceedings, the High Court asked the Union government to clarify the framework used to identify locations for AIIMS institutions and questioned why Kerala has not yet been allotted one.
Centre Asked States to Propose Land in 2014
As per a report by The Hindu, the central government in 2014 had asked state governments to identify and propose suitable land parcels for setting up new AIIMS campuses.
Following this initiative, AIIMS institutes have already been established in 18 states, while construction is currently underway in four additional states. However, Kerala still does not have an AIIMS campus.
Health Ministry Official Appears Before Court
Earlier in February, the High Court directed a senior official from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to appear before the court virtually to explain the matter.
Complying with the directive, a Joint Secretary from the ministry joined the court proceedings online on March 11 and presented the Centre’s position regarding the issue.
Court Seeks Feasibility Assessment of Kozhikode Site
In an earlier hearing, the High Court had also asked the Union Health Ministry to clarify whether the land identified at Kinaloor in Kozhikode meets the norms required for establishing an AIIMS campus.
The land parcel is currently under the control of the Kerala State Industries Development Corporation (KSIDC).
The court further instructed the Centre to conduct a feasibility assessment of the proposed site in coordination with the state government, while the matter remains under consideration.
The case is expected to continue as the court examines whether the Centre’s policy on AIIMS expansion has been applied consistently across states, including Kerala.
