Allahabad High Court Slams SRN Hospital, Labels It a “Mortuary”; Blames Medical Mafia for Healthcare Collapse in Prayagraj
The Allahabad High Court has delivered a scathing indictment of the state of public healthcare in Prayagraj, particularly highlighting the deteriorating condition of Swaroop Rani Nehru (SRN) Hospital, affiliated with Motilal Nehru Medical College.
The court described the hospital as being in such a deplorable state that it “resembles a mortuary more than a hospital.”
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on May 23, came down hard on the hospital authorities, noting that poor and helpless patients are being systematically diverted to private clinics by touts allegedly planted by a deeply entrenched medical mafia.
This nexus, according to the court, involves private practitioners and hospital staff members, effectively crippling the hospital’s operations and its ability to serve the public.
The court’s observations were based on a damning report submitted by two amici curiae, who visited SRN Hospital and found gross inadequacies — from the absence of doctors in the outpatient department (OPD) to a severe lack of basic medical facilities.
Justice Agarwal directed the principal secretary of medical health to immediately bring the court’s concerns to the attention of the state government, including the chief secretary and, if necessary, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.
The timing of the revelations is particularly alarming, coming just after the successful conclusion of the Mahakumbh 2025, which was held in Prayagraj during January and February.
The SRN Hospital is located merely one kilometre from the mela site. According to official estimates, approximately 66.3 crore pilgrims took a holy dip at the Sangam during the event.
Despite this massive influx of people, the city’s healthcare system was severely ill-equipped. “It was only by divine grace that no major mishap occurred,” the court observed, expressing concern over the lack of medical preparedness during such a high-risk period.
In comparing Prayagraj with other major cities in Uttar Pradesh, the court noted stark disparities. While cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, and Gorakhpur have hospitals with capacities exceeding 2,000 beds,
Prayagraj lags with only 1,750 beds — a startling shortfall given that it hosted the world’s largest religious gathering.
The court also criticized elected representatives from Prayagraj, including cabinet ministers from the region, for their apparent apathy towards the worsening condition of the hospital. It noted that public officials have failed to ensure even the most basic healthcare services for the citizens.
To address the issue of government doctors engaging in private practice, the court directed the district magistrate, who was present during the hearing, to form a dedicated monitoring team.
This team is responsible for overseeing and reporting on the professional conduct of faculty members at the medical college, including professors, associate professors, assistant professors, readers, and lecturers, to ensure they are not compromising their government duties.
With this series of directives, the Allahabad High Court has sent a strong message to the state machinery, urging urgent reforms in Prayagraj’s public healthcare infrastructure and an immediate crackdown on the private medical mafia undermining it.
