Bhopal: A division bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday directed the state government to submit details of the steps taken against private hospitals that are allegedly operating in violation of prescribed norms. The bench, comprising Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf, also asked the state to hand over the inquiry report of a high-level committee investigating the tragic fire at New Life Hospital in Jabalpur, which claimed eight lives in August 2022.
The directive came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in 2022 by Vishal Baghel, President of the Law Students’ Union. In his plea, Baghel alleged that numerous hospitals were granted permission to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic despite violating key regulations. These included non-compliance with the National Building Code, lack of fire safety measures, absence of a valid building completion certificate, failure to maintain a mandatory six-metre open space for fire brigade access, and insufficient parking facilities.
The court has also instructed the state government to respond within two weeks to a detailed questionnaire submitted by the petitioners. The questionnaire reportedly raises critical questions about regulatory oversight and accountability.
Notably, during the pendency of the petition, the devastating fire at New Life Hospital brought the issue into sharp focus. A high-level probe committee, formed by the state government, found that local health department officials were responsible for allowing the hospital to operate without the necessary infrastructure and approvals. However, no punitive action was taken against the concerned officials even after the findings.
Taking serious note of the lapse, the court has now directed the state to submit an action-taken report and forward the committee’s findings to the police for further examination. The case highlights ongoing concerns over regulatory negligence and safety violations in the state’s private healthcare sector.
