Rainwater leaks into Medical College wards: Human Rights Commission orders joint inspection

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has directed the Health and Public Works departments to conduct a joint inspection and take steps to address complaints of rainwater leaking into some wards of the Medical College Hospital.

Human Rights Commission Chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas directed the Director of Medical Education (DME) and the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (Buildings) wing to arrange for a joint inspection by the Deputy Director of Medical Education and a PWD Executive Engineer.

The hospital superintendent and college principal must be informed before the inspection. The inspection report should be submitted to the DME and the Chief Engineer, who must then take steps to carry out the necessary repairs. A report should subsequently be submitted to the Principal Secretary of the Health Department.

The Health Department Secretary has been directed to order urgent repair work within two weeks of receiving the report. The Chief Engineer and DME must submit a report to the Human Rights Commission within four weeks, along with the inspection findings. The Principal Secretary (Health) and the hospital superintendent must submit their reports within five weeks.

Justice Alexander Thomas also directed the Health Department Joint Secretary, Deputy DME and PWD Executive Engineer to appear in person before the Commission at its office at PMG Junction at 10 am on November 2.

The Commission took the action after registering a suo motu case based on a newspaper report about rainwater leaking into the hospital.