Supreme Court Pulls Up Gujarat Govt Over Failure To Comply With Fire Safety Norms

On Monday, the Supreme Court pulled up the Gujrat Government as it failed to comply with the fire safety norms in the hospitals putting the lives of people in danger. A notification was issued by the government stating that hospitals need not comply with the norms till June 2022. 

The Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah said, “Once a mandamus is there, it cannot be overridden by an executive notification like this! You now give a carte blanche and say hospitals don't have to adhere till 2022 and people will continue dying and be burnt…”. Also, the Court took an exception to the fact that the report on the issue of fire safety in hospitals by the commission was filed in a sealed cover.  

A suo motu case was being heard by the Court about fire tragedies in the COVID-19 hospitals across the country. A fire tragedy at Rajkot hospital in Gujrat led to the death of 5 COVID patients. Fire safety measures should have been a significant aspect for the private hospitals admitting the COVID-19 patients.  

On 18th December, the Court noted that further audits were required to be taken although the states and the union territories have taken measures. Moreover, "40 hospitals in Gujarat were held liable and they came to High Court. Later, the government order was that no action should be taken against hospitals for violation of fire safety. Such an order is a contempt of this court” said Justice MR Shah. 

“Hospitals have become a large industry now based on human distress and we cannot prosper them at the cost of lives. Let such hospitals be closed,” added Justice Chandrachud.  

Hence, the court directed the Gujrat Government to file a thorough statement providing details of the fire safety audits that were conducted per the Supreme Court order of December 2020 and to file an affidavit explaining the notification.  

The matter is slated for two weeks later.