Telangana HC initiates Suo Motu PIL over safety, staffing deficiencies in Govt Hospitals

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has initiated a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) over alleged safety and staffing deficiencies in government hospitals across the state, amid concerns over patient safety and healthcare infrastructure.

The action followed a representation submitted by Hyderabad-based advocate Nallapu Manideep to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, highlighting alleged systemic shortcomings in public healthcare facilities and violations of the fundamental right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Also Read:RIMS Adilabad Hospital fire: 4 doctors help rescue 25 newborns

A bench of Acting Chief Justice P Sam Koshy and Justice Suddala Chalapathi Rao directed the Telangana government and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to file their counter-affidavits before the next hearing, reports TNIE.

The court's intervention came after the CJI forwarded a detailed representation submitted by Manideep to the Telangana High Court for consideration as a PIL. Taking note of the issues raised, the Acting Chief Justice ordered its registration as a suo motu public interest litigation.

The representation specifically highlighted two hospital mishaps that occurred within a span of 24 hours in September, raising serious concerns over safety standards and infrastructure maintenance in government healthcare institutions.

At the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Adilabad, a fire broke out in the Special Newborn Care Unit, claiming the lives of five infants. As many as 28 newborns were evacuated from the unit following the incident.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that four doctors helped rescue around 25 newborns after a fire broke out inside the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Adilabad, on Monday night. Three infants died in the incident, following which the Telangana government ordered an inquiry.

In a separate incident at MGM Hospital in Warangal, portions of the concrete ceiling and false ceiling collapsed in the Aarogyasri ward. A paralysed patient, attendants and sanitation workers sustained injuries in the mishap.

Relying on the Supreme Court’s judgment in Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity v. State of West Bengal, the PIL seeks independent technical inquiries into both incidents, a comprehensive safety and staffing audit of government hospitals across the State, and time-bound improvements to intensive care units and neonatal wards. It also seeks compensation and rehabilitation for the victims and a permanent monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance with hospital safety standards, reports Telangana Today.

Also Read:MGM Hospital Warangal ceiling collapse injures 5, including a patient