High court admits criminal plea about security at hospitals

More than two years after an infant was stolen from the civic-run Sion hospital, the Bombay high court has admitted the criminal public interest litigation (PIL) raising concern over security in hospitals.

More than two years after an infant was stolen from the civic-run Sion hospital, the Bombay high court has admitted the criminal public interest litigation (PIL) raising concern over security in hospitals.

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A division bench of justice BH Marlapalle and justice UD Salvi admitted the PIL as it involves larger issue of security concerns at all corporation and government-run hospitals. The court has also asked the state government and the corporation to implement guidelines framed by the court on May 6, 2009.

On January 1, 2009, Mohan and Mohini Nerurkar’s three-day-old baby was kidnapped from Sion hospital's maternity ward. Mohini alleged that she had gone to the rest room and asked a woman to look after her baby.

Nerurkars then filed a habeas corpus (produce person in court) petition, which the court had converted into a criminal PIL.

Even with the petition pending, the government and corporation assuring the court that have started taking sufficient security measures at hospitals, another baby was kidnapped last October from VN Desai Hospital, Santacruz.

The corporation has filed reports showing that they have implemented the guidelines in majority of the civic-run hospitals such as the Sion hospital, Nair Hospital, KEM Hospital, Rajawadi Hospital among others.

The government also filed report saying they are in the process to implement the guidelines.