KOCHI: High court has said that guidelines should be prepared to take patients in serious condition to Kochi for hospitalisation and treatment. Recently the Lakshadweep administration has made changes in the protocol to take back patients from Lakshadweep via helicopter ambulance to hospitals in Kochi. The high court’s response comes on the plea filed against the new reforms being implemented in the islands in this regard.

The court has asked the island's administration to prepare clear guidelines in this regard. The guidelines should be submitted before the court within 10 days. The court has also asked for similar guidelines for taking patients from other islands to Kavaratti.

The court has also asked to present those who were held by the administration for burning the effigy of the collector before the CJM in Ammini islands today itself via online. In the plea file before the court, the petitioners have alleged that even after arresting persons on bailable sections they were detained illegally. Whereas, the police told the court that they were not detained and were kept in custody as they didn’t present the bonds specified in their bail applications. The court told the police to release them today itself if they satisfy the bail conditions.