AIIMS Jodhpur Protest: Health Ministry Changes Administrative Setup, Director Shifted to Delhi

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has changed the administrative arrangement at AIIMS Jodhpur following an ongoing protest by resident doctors after the death of a first-year resident doctor.

Through an Office Order dated September 27, 2026, the Ministry directed Dr Goverdhan Dutt Puri, Executive Director of AIIMS Jodhpur, to report to the Ministry in New Delhi with immediate effect. The order also assigned Prof. (Dr.) Sanjeev Sinha, Executive Director of AIIMS Jammu, additional charge of Executive Director, AIIMS Jodhpur until further orders.

AIIMS Jammu Director Given Additional Charge

Dr Sanjeev Sinha will continue his existing responsibilities at AIIMS Jammu while additionally overseeing AIIMS Jodhpur.

According to the Ministry's order, he has been tasked with ensuring continuity and effective functioning of the institute, including patient-care services, academic activities, student and resident welfare, and other essential institutional services. The additional responsibility carries no extra remuneration.

What Led to the Administrative Change?

The development follows the death of a first-year resident doctor from the Department of Anaesthesiology & Critical Care at AIIMS Jodhpur on September 22.

According to the earlier report, the resident was found unconscious in a bathroom in a doctors' resting area while on a break from duty at the operation theatre. He was taken to the Emergency Department, where he was declared dead. Police were investigating the death and suspected suicide.

Following the incident, resident doctors began an indefinite strike and raised concerns about working conditions, duty hours, workload and resident welfare.

Resident Doctors' Protest

The Resident Doctors' Association had suspended elective OT procedures and routine OPD services from September 24, while emergency services continued.

The residents had raised several demands, including institutional accountability, reforms concerning working conditions and resident welfare, and the resignation of the Executive Director. They also sought regulation of resident duty hours, adequate staffing and improved safety and welfare mechanisms.

In a subsequent development, the resident doctors continued their protest and also demonstrated outside the Director's residence. Their demands reportedly included a public apology from the institute, compensation for the deceased doctor's family and changes to working conditions.

Government's Latest Administrative Arrangement

The Health Ministry said the changes were being implemented to facilitate the restoration of normal academic and institutional functioning at AIIMS Jodhpur and to address the concerns of students, patients and other stakeholders.

Protest and Working Conditions

The protest has also brought attention to concerns raised by resident doctors regarding duty hours and workload. Residents had alleged that they were sometimes required to work 36-hour shifts without adequate rest, while their formal demands included limiting duty schedules and ensuring mandatory rest and post-duty recovery.

AIIMS Jodhpur had earlier constituted committees to examine the death and the grievances raised by residents and had urged doctors to resume duties while assuring them that their concerns would be addressed.

Conclusion

The Union Health Ministry's latest order has introduced a new administrative arrangement at AIIMS Jodhpur amid the resident doctors' protest following the death of a first-year resident.

With AIIMS Jammu Executive Director Dr Sanjeev Sinha now holding additional charge of AIIMS Jodhpur, along with the proposed five-member faculty committee, the immediate focus is on maintaining patient care and academic activities while addressing concerns raised by residents.