No nursing homes in NOIDA residential areas: SC

The Supreme Court has asked NOIDA administration to ensure that no poly clinics or nursing homes are permitted in the residential area of the Capital's satellite town and the same are allowed only in its earmarked commercial areas.

A bench of justices Swatanter Kumar and Ranjana Prakash Desai, however, said doctors can run their individual clinics in the residential areas, but the same should be purely on outpatient basis.

"A clinic simplicitor can be run by a doctor within such area as already specified, in his or her residence. This clinic would mean one as per the bye-laws.

"To put the matters beyond ambiguity, we clarify that the doctor can have his clinic with a table, a bed to examine the patient and such facilities which may be necessary to provide first aid. A dentist may have a dental chair in his clinic. Under this head, neither a polyclinic nor a nursing home can be run in the residential area.

"We also direct that no doctor would be permitted to run a polyclinic or a nursing home in the garb of a clinic," the apex court said.

The bench passed the orders while dealing with a bunch of applications moved by doctors seeking alternative land in view of the apex court's last year December 5 order that no banks or nursing homes shall operate in the commercial areas.

The apex court had passed the order on a PIL complaining of mushrooming banks and hospitals / clinics in areas purely marked for residential purpose.