Examiner News Desk | Srinagar:
A visit by former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti to the under-construction AIIMS at Awantipora has ignited a major political controversy, with the ruling National Conference (NC), senior government ministers and opposition leaders accusing her of overstepping constitutional boundaries and undermining the authority of the elected government.
The controversy erupted after Mehbooba Mufti, accompanied by PDP legislators Waheed Ur Rehman Parra and Rafiq Ahmad Naik, visited the AIIMS Awantipora site on Thursday and reviewed the progress of the prestigious healthcare project. Photographs released by the PDP showed officials and engineers briefing the former Chief Minister during the visit.
Describing AIIMS Awantipora as the “dream project” of her father and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Mehbooba expressed satisfaction over the pace of work and highlighted the institution’s potential to transform healthcare, medical education and research in Jammu and Kashmir.
“It is encouraging to see the project progressing. It will significantly benefit the people of the region. I also hope local youth are given preference for non-technical and non-professional employment opportunities,” she said, while urging Union Health Minister JP Nadda to expedite the completion of the project.
However, the visit drew immediate criticism from the National Conference, which questioned the authority under which the former Chief Minister conducted what it termed a “review meeting” of a centrally funded institution.
NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq accused the PDP leader of legitimising what he described as an “unelected power structure” in Jammu and Kashmir.
“If unelected politicians can summon officials and review government projects, it raises serious questions about institutional accountability and constitutional governance,” Sadiq said. He maintained that oversight of public institutions remains the responsibility of elected governments and authorised authorities.
He further alleged that the PDP was attempting to weaken the Omar Abdullah-led government at a time when it was intensifying efforts for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights and statehood.
Jammu and Kashmir Health Minister Sakeena Itoo also criticised the visit, accusing Mehbooba Mufti of acting as though she still held executive authority.
“Some leaders appear unable to reconcile with the fact that they are no longer in office,” Itoo remarked, questioning the circumstances under which the visit and review were conducted.
The Minister also claimed that the AIIMS project had witnessed prolonged delays during the PDP-BJP coalition government and asserted that work had gained momentum under the present administration.
Adding to the criticism, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference president Sajad Lone described the episode as “nothing short of a constitutional crisis,” arguing that the review meeting amounted to an intrusion into established governance mechanisms.
“In what official capacity was a review meeting of a Central Government institution conducted?” Lone asked, warning that such actions could create a precedent for political interference by individuals lacking constitutional authority.
The PDP, however, strongly defended Mehbooba Mufti’s visit. Party leaders maintained that there was nothing unconstitutional about the exercise and argued that senior political leaders routinely visit major public institutions irrespective of whether they hold public office.
PDP MLA Rafiq Ahmad Naik said the AIIMS project falls within his constituency and that the authorities had been formally informed in advance about the visit. He maintained that the interaction was aimed at reviewing public concerns related to the project and did not amount to an official administrative exercise.
The controversy further intensified after the Health Department convened an official review meeting of the AIIMS project on Saturday, a day after Mehbooba’s visit. According to sources, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo chaired the meeting to assess construction progress and preparations related to staffing and recruitment.
PDP leaders alleged that the government acted only after public attention was drawn to the project following Mehbooba’s visit. Health Department officials, however, maintained that the review meeting had been scheduled a week earlier.
Project Facing Delays
AIIMS Awantipora, sanctioned in 2015 under the Prime Minister’s Development Package and being developed under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), remains one of the Valley’s most significant healthcare infrastructure projects.
The proposed 1,000-bed tertiary care institution was originally scheduled for completion by December 2025. However, official sources indicate that the deadline has now been extended to December 2026, with approximately 26 per cent of the construction work still pending.
While AIIMS Vijaypur in Jammu became operational last year, the Awantipora project has faced repeated delays due to land acquisition issues, infrastructure challenges and connectivity-related constraints.
Officials associated with the project said efforts are underway to meet the revised deadline, though progress remains dependent on weather conditions and execution schedules in the Valley.
The episode has now evolved into a broader political debate over governance, institutional authority and the role of opposition leaders in monitoring public projects, adding a new dimension to the ongoing contest between Jammu and Kashmir’s major political parties.
