KOCHI: The High Court said that the validity of the educational certificates of doctors should be verified before appointing doctors in the state. It also said that some guidelines are necessary for this. If necessary, action should also be taken to verify the certificates of doctors present in government service, the court said. Justice PV Kunhikrishnan ordered the government to file an affidavit clarifying its position in this regard.

The court gave the direction in a petition filed by Kollam native Sridevi and her husband Sabu alleging that Cherthala native Dr. TS Seema, who was working as a gynecologist at the Karunagappally Taluk Hospital, was not qualified enough and that their baby died due to her negligence.

The government lawyer said that the Karunagappally police have registered a case in the incident. However, the court directed the Crime Branch to investigate and the DGP to appoint a special team within a week. A progress report should be submitted within one month. The government should inform the decision on how much compensation can be given to the petitioners within a month. The court will consider the plea again on September 4.