PIL filed in HC after Kottayam Medical College Building Collapse

Kottayam: In the wake of a tragic collapse of a building at Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital that resulted in the death of a woman and left three others injured, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Kerala High Court demanding urgent and comprehensive reforms in the State’s public healthcare infrastructure.

The PIL, titled G Samuel & Ors v State of Kerala & Ors, was filed by a group of human rights activists in response to the collapse of an old bathroom block attached to the Orthopaedics ward of the Kottayam Medical College on Thursday.

Systemic Negligence

According to the petitioners, the incident is emblematic of deeper, systemic issues plaguing government-run hospitals across Kerala, particularly negligence in infrastructure maintenance and administrative apathy. The plea draws attention to the dangerous condition of the building, which had been declared structurally unfit according to engineering reports, yet continued to house nearly 70 patients.

The affected area — a bathroom complex attached to the hospital's oldest building — was reportedly being used by post-operative patients from the 10th ward. According to official sources, hospital staff allowed its use to spare patients and caregivers the difficulty of walking long distances to reach other restrooms.

While Health Minister Veena George confirmed that the Public Works Department (PWD) had flagged the building as unsafe back in 2013, some hospital staff claim the same department later gave it clearance for use.

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Speaking to the Hindu, an official said, “Given that this is a post-operative ward, it is challenging for patients and their companions to walk a considerable distance to access washrooms. Therefore, we conducted basic maintenance work to ensure that these facilities were available for their use. Patients and bystanders were not compelled to use these bathrooms.”

The petition also recounts a recent public revelation by Dr. Harris Chirackal regarding the lack of essential surgical equipment at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. Following his disclosure, the State government promptly airlifted surgical instruments to the hospital, demonstrating that timely action is possible when there is sufficient will.

"It is clear evidence that the Government can provide these facilities to the concerned departments, especially related to the surgery at every medical college in a speedy manner without having any latches," the petition states, reports Bar and Bench.

Call for Judicial Oversight

The PIL accuses the government of lacking the will to proactively address life-threatening deficiencies in public hospitals.

The petitioners have approached the Court, seeking its intervention to initiate systemic reforms in the management of public healthcare institutions.

According to the Bar Bench, "So the guidelines from the Hon'ble Court are very much necessary for the effective administration of the health department, which is the only resort to all citizens, especially to the poor people who have no source of income to approach the private hospitals.", the petition stated.

The plea underscores that despite having qualified doctors and manpower, the State’s failure to effectively harness its healthcare resources reflects a broader administrative failure and a violation of citizens’ fundamental right to health under Article 21 of the Constitution.

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The petitioners have therefore requested the Court to issue directions to the Additional Chief Secretary (Health) to ensure the efficient administration and proper maintenance of all government medical institutions. They have also sought judicial guidelines for the Health Department to urgently improve infrastructure, ensure the availability of essential medical equipment, and uphold hygiene standards across these institutions.

The PIL has been moved through a team of advocates, including Alex K John, Satheesh TP, Jilcy Jacob, Sijin Stanley, Cyriac Elias Steen, Sreekuttan M, Suresh PN, Arun KV, Ninan Thomas, Gego George, Prathitha Mariyam Thomas, and Sinil Kumar G.

District Collector’s Probe Underway

Following the tragic collapse of a bathroom complex at the Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital, Health Minister Veena George issued a directive for immediate action. In response, District Collector V. Vigneswari launched a formal investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Meanwhile, the Collector also maintained that there was no delay in conducting rescue operations after the building collapsed. “As soon as the information was received that someone was trapped in the debris, excavators were dispatched to the site. The only delay was in transporting the equipment to the location of the accident. This toilet was for the patients coming after an operation in the ward,” he said, reports the Hindu.

The inspection team included Medical College Hospital Superintendent Dr. T. K. Jayakumar, Principal Dr. Varghese P. Punnoose, and officials from the Revenue and PWD departments. Their collective findings will contribute to the final report, expected to be submitted within the coming week.