Former President of Citizen Rights Protection forum Demands Action Over IGMC Altercation, Warns of Legal Move
Deshbandhu Sood, former President of the Citizen Rights Protection Forum, has issued a sharp rebuke over the handling of a recent altercation between a doctor and a patient at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC), accusing the city’s leadership of silence and political posturing while a “grave situation” unfolds for the public.
In a press note released on Friday, Sood highlighted that the incident, which occurred three to four days ago, has exposed deep systemic issues. He lamented that while the situation deteriorates, “every intellectual section of the city is sitting silent,” and leaders from both the ruling party and the opposition seem more focused on “serving their own political interests” than on public welfare.
Pointing towards a legal precedent, Sood urged authorities to implement the orders passed by the court in Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. CWP 310 of 2004. He stressed that IGMC, a vital public health institution, “should not be turned into a political arena.” Instead, he demanded that the case be handed over to an impartial investigating agency to ensure a fair probe and punishment for the guilty.
“The residents of Shimla city appeal to the Health Minister, the opposition leader, IGMC management, fellow journalists, and the city’s intellectuals to strive to resolve this issue in the interest of the public, society, and the state,” Sood stated, cautioning them against provocation or assuming the role of judges themselves.
Sood’s note also broadened into a critique of the city’s administration, connecting the IGMC incident to wider public discontent. He noted that common citizens are “already distressed” by various events and initiatives promoted under banners like ‘Smart City’ and tourism, which they feel do not address core civic issues.
Issuing a direct warning to the Municipal Corporation, district administration, police, trade associations, and local political representatives, Sood said they must “work in the interest of the people of Shimla and Himachal Pradesh.” He concluded with a stark ultimatum: “Otherwise, we will have no option left but to go to court.”
The statement signals growing public frustration with institutional accountability in Shimla, framing the hospital altercation not as an isolated event but as a symptom of broader administrative failure. It remains to be seen how the concerned authorities will respond to this call for action and the threat of legal recourse.
