Court orders monthly fire audit of Covid hospitals

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 18

The Supreme Court on Friday asked all states and union territories to constitute a committee in each district to carry out a monthly fire audit of each Covid hospital, inform the deficiency to the hospital management and report to the government for taking follow up action.

“All states/UTs should appoint one nodal officer for each Covid hospital, if not already appointed, who shall be made responsible for ensuring the compliance of all fire safety measures, said a Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan — which had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of a Rajkot hospital fire accident that claimed six lives.

“The Covid hospitals which have not obtained NOC from the Fire Department of the State should be asked to immediately apply for NOC and after carrying necessary inspection, a decision will be taken,” the court said. It said Covid hospitals which had not renewed their NOC should immediately take steps for renewal and those found not having NOC or not having obtained renewal will face appropriate action. The top court asked the government to devise a mechanism to give rotational breaks to doctors and healthcare professionals working continuously since April.

“They (doctors, nurses etc.) are already exhausted physically and mentally due to tireless work for eight months. Some mechanism may be required to give them intermittent rest,” it said.