PIL in Kerala High Court over Kottayam Medical College building collapse

A public interest litigation (PIL) has been moved before the Kerala High Court following the death of a woman in the Kottayam Medical College building collapse [G Samuel & ors v State of Kerala & ors]

An old bathroom block attached to the Orthopaedics ward of the Medical College building had collapsed on Thursday killing Bindu and injuring three others.

The petition filed by three human rights activists has sought court monitored reforms in the administration, functioning and infrastructure of government run hospitals and medical colleges across the State.

The petition highlights the systemic negligence and poor infrastructure in government healthcare institutions.

It recounts the public disclosure of a doctor, one Harris Chirackal, about the non-availability of essential surgical facilities at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, following which surgical instruments were swiftly airlifted to the hospital by the government.

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

As regards the Kottayam building collapse, the petitioner has claimed that around 70 patients were admitted to the structurally unsafe building, which, according to engineering reports, lacked structural fitness.

As per the plea, the government lacks the will to act promptly unless there is a public outcry.

Lives of the citizens are endangered due to such delays, the plea alleges.

The petitioners have thus sought the Court's intervention to bring systemic changes in the administration of public healthcare institutions.

"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 citizen especially to the poor people who are having no source of income to approach the private hospitals.", the petition stated.

The plea further states that despite having trained doctors and adequate manpower, the State was failing to ensure effective utilisation of its resources, reflecting a broader administrative failure and the violation of the fundamental right to health.

The petitioners have thus sought directions against the Additional Chief Secretary (Health) to ensure effective administration and maintenance of all government medical institutions and judicial guidelines to the Health Department for urgent improvements in infrastructure, availability of medical equipment and hygiene standards in medical institutions.

The plea has been moved by advocates 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.