Mumbai: The Bombay high court has asked the state government to file a compliance report on checking the existence of illegal nursing homes in the state. The court issued the directions after the petitioner pointed out that the claims of the state that it had identified 3,795 nursing homes and hospitals in the state flouting norms during a one month surprise check was insufficient, and left many areas unchecked.
The court directed the petitioner to point out the same to the government and asked the state to continue its surprise visits as well as submit a compliance report in September.
A division bench of Chief Justice Dr Manjula Chellur and Justice N.M. Jamdar was hearing the public interest litigation filed by Pune resident Atul Bhosale raising concerns over increasing number of illegal nursing homes and hospitals.
The court had asked the state to submit an affidavit wherein the state assured the court that it was taking stringent measures to curb mushrooming of illegal nursing homes as well as carrying out surprise raids and checks and taking action against homes that were operating without proper licenses.
The affidavit said a random inspection had been launched for a month in March this year, in which 3,795 private nursing homes and hospitals were found to be flouting provisions of various acts.
However, advocate Yuvraj Narwankar while responding to the state’s affidavit said that the state was trying to mislead the court by giving false assurances as the number of illegal nursing homes in the state was increasing and action being taken against such homes was less. “There are so many illegal nursing homes and hospitals operating in the major metropolises and rural areas too. They are operating freely right under the noses of the government,” he argued.
After hearing both sides, the bench directed the government to increase its vigilance and submit its compliance report in September.
The bench also asked the petitioner to bring to the notice of the state about the illegal nursing homes and hospitals and asked the state to take cognisance of the same.
