Madurai
Madras High Court Dismisses Plea for Fire Safety Measures in Hospitals
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition seeking strict adherence to fire safety guidelines in hospitals across Tamil Nadu. The petition, filed by KK Ramesh of Madurai, highlighted the lack of functional fire safety devices and proper training for hospital staff. The court, however, found the petition lacking in specificity and dismissed it.
Madurai: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition that sought to ensure strict adherence to fire safety guidelines in hospitals across Tamil Nadu. The petition was filed by KK Ramesh of Madurai, who argued that many hospitals install fire safety devices merely to obtain operational permissions, without ensuring their functionality or proper staff training.
Ramesh highlighted the high risk of fire accidents in hospitals due to the indiscriminate use of air conditioners, medical equipment, and other machines, which can lead to electrical overloads and short circuits. He cited several fire accidents in hospitals across the country to emphasize the need for proper fire safety measures.
Despite the concerns raised, a bench comprising Justices J Nisha Banu and S Srimathy observed that the petitioner should have been more specific in his allegations. Consequently, the court dismissed the petition, stating that it lacked the necessary details to warrant a directive for strict adherence to fire safety guidelines in hospitals.
