Has never tried to humiliate or insult someone; GB pant hospital superintendent issues unconditional apology over Malayalam circular 

​​​​​​NEW DELHI: Nursing Superintendent of Delhi's GB Pant Hospital on Wednesday rendered an apology over the (now-withdrawn) controversial order against the use of Malayalam language by nursing staff.

"The circular was issued in a positive sense and there was no bad intention against Malayali-speaking staff. The circular was misinterpreted about its true sense and I did not get a chance to explain. If any staff's feeling got hurt, I apologise," said the Nursing Superintendent.

In a circular issued by the Nursing Superintendent of the Delhi government-run Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (GIPMER) on June 5, all nursing personnel were directed to use only Hindi and English language for communication at the premises of the healthcare facility. It had also warned of "serious actions" against anyone found speaking in other languages.

The circular had mentioned receiving a complaint against the use of the Malayalam language in the institute.

"A complaint has been received regarding the Malayalam language is being used for communication in working places in GIPMER. Whereas maximum patients and colleagues do not know this language and feel helpless causing a lot of inconveniences," the circular read.

"So, it is directed to all nursing personnel to use only Hindi and English for communication otherwise serious action will be taken," it added.

As the news stoked a row, the circular was withdrawn.

The hospital administration had claimed that it had no information regarding the circular.

Congress Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor had slammed the circular, saying it is a violation of the basic human rights of Indian citizens.

"It boggles the mind that in democratic India a government institution can tell its nurses not to speak in their mother tongue to others who understand them. This is unacceptable, crude, offensive and a violation of the basic human rights of Indian citizens. A reprimand is overdue!," Tharoor had tweeted.