The Supreme Court Friday directed all the States to constitute a committee in each district to conduct fire audit of Covid-19 hospitals at least once a month, inform the management of medical establishment about any deficiency and report to the Government for taking follow up action.
A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said that COVID-19 hospitals,which have not obtained no objection certificate from the concerned fire department, should be asked to immediately apply for NOC and after carrying necessary inspection, decision shall be taken in this regard.
“Those COVID hospitals who have not renewed their NOC should immediately take steps for renewal on which appropriate inspection be taken and decision be taken. In event, COVID hospital is found not having NOC or not having obtained renewal, appropriate action be taken by the State,” said the bench, also comprising Justices R S Reddy and M R Shah.
The top court directed that all states and Union Territories should appoint one nodal officer for each COVID hospital, if not already appointed, who shall be made responsible for ensuring compliance of all fire safety measures.
“In each district, state government should constitute a committeeto carry fire audit of each COVID hospital at least once in a monthand inform the deficiency to the management of the hospital and report to the government for taking follow up action,” the bench said in its order.
The apex court had last month taken cognisance of the fire incident at a COVID hospital in Gujarat’s Rajkot in which five patients had died. It had also taken note of similar incidents which had happened earlier in other COVID hospitals.