SC blasts Gujarat for defying its order related to fire safety in hospitals

The Supreme Court observed that the way hospitals have been running illegally leading to loss of lives is a "tragedy" and it's better that they are closed and states provide for the facilities. The court lashed out at Gujarat for this and said that its orders can not be overridden like this and it would be considered contempt of court.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has slammed the Gujarat government for bringing a notification to reverse the court's order on fire safety in Covid hospitals, even after several fire incidents that led to the deaths of a number of patients and hospital staff. The Supreme Court observed on Monday that the way hospitals have been running illegally leading to loss of lives is a "tragedy" and it's better that they are closed and states provide for the facilities.

"Let's face it, hospitals have become a big industry," remarked Justice DY Chandrachud. "Do we see these hospitals as real estate industry or service to humanity?," asked Justice Chandrachud expressing his disappointment.

The bench comprising of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice MR Shah was hearing a suo moto case on covid-19 patients and dignified handling of dead bodies in the hospital, wherein the court had directed earlier the state of Gujarat to follow fire safety norms in hospitals in wake of a fire that had engulfed various patients in the hospitals of the state. However, Gujarat issued a notification, allowing the hospitals more time to implement fire safety norms till March 2022.

The Apex court lashed out at Gujarat for this notification and said that its orders can not be overridden like this and it would be considered contempt of court. Already so many lives are lost, more will be lost due to this, observed the court. The Court observed that the impression that citizens would gather through this is that hospitals are run illegally, no fire safety norms etc are being followed. Referring to last year fire incidents, Justice Chandrachud said that he was "shell shocked" to read the news wherein patients and nurses died in the fire due to hospitals' violations.

The court asked the state of Gujarat to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court answering on how could it issue a notification defying the court orders. The SC also wants to know about the steps taken by Gujarat regarding fire safety audits and the implementation of other directions given by the court earlier.