Hospitals are becoming unsafe: HC

 The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday observed that there was no value for human life in India as hospitals were becoming very unsafe.  Had it been the US or any other developed country, the building plan of the hospital would not have been sanctioned without proper fire safety measures.

Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri made these observations while hearing the petition filed by M/s Sushruta Medical Aid and Research Hospital (Bangalore Hospital) located on RV Road in Bengaluru  The petitioner has approached the court seeking time to incorporate the fire safety measures after they received a notice from Bescom that they would disconnect the power supply for non-compliance of fire safety norms. 

The Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services had conducted an inspection of the hospital building and found that the building has several flaws, no sprinklers and several other setbacks. 

Following a report by the fire services, Bescom issued notice to the hospital in January .  The bench directed the hospital  to comply with the norms and submit a report  in two months.

Bonus Act, 2015  stayed

The court granted a stay and restrained the Central government and the Ministry of Law and Justice from enforcing the Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Act, 2015 for the accounting year 2015-2016.

While hearing the petition filed by Karnataka Employees Association, Justice AS Bopanna also ordered notice to Central government.

The petitioner has challenged the retrospective effect of enforcing the said Act on computing bonus in respect to scheduled employments, under the Minimum Wages Act, by virtue of insertion to the amended provision of the Payment of Bonus Act. 

 The Central government has issued directions that the benefits should accrue from April 01, 2014.  The burden of the enhanced bonus payout for 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 on the Central government is expected to be around Rs 6,115 crore, and in addition there is heavy financial burden on the State government and industrial establishments. Also the minimum wages payable to a permanent employee will work out lesser than a non-permanent employee and this is a serious anomaly, the petitioner contended.  The petitioners have sought quashing of the insertion of words.