HC directs hospital to return nurse's papers

The Delhi high court has issued notices to the city government and Max Super Specialty Hospital on the plea of a 27-year-old ailing nurse on the allegation that she was not given back her original certificates by the employer even after putting in her papers.

The Delhi high court has issued notices to the city government and Max Super Specialty Hospital on the plea of a 27-year-old ailing nurse on the allegation that she was not given back her original certificates by the employer even after putting in her papers.

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Addressing the matter, Justice S. Muralidhar has asked the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the hospital authority to respond to the petition of Sneha Susan Ninan, a resident of Kerala, and fix

the matter for further hearing on December 5.

Ninan, who

was forced to resign on

June 6 due to severe backache, has sought a direction to Max Super Specialty Hospital to "release original certificates from the illegal custody

and possession of the respondent (hospital)".

The petition, filed through lawyer Jose Abraham, alleged the act of the hospital was "discriminatory, unfair, illegal and violative of her fundamental rights". Moreover, the hospital administration had demanding R50,000 from the nurse for giving back the certificates.

"Ninan approached her employer for her resignation letter to go back to her home town for treatment. But the hospital asked for R50,000 for accepting her resignation and releasing her certificates. The petitioner was not in a position to pay the money to the respondent hospital," the petition said.

Hospitals have no right to keep original certificates, except for verification, and they are "duty-bound to return them" on the same day, it said.