Evolve proposal to provide ramps in med colleges and hospitals: Madras HC

Chennai: The Madras high court has asked authorities to apply their mind together to work out a comprehensive viable proposal, including necessary changes which have to be made for providing ramps in medical colleges and hospitals.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M. M. Sundresh posted for April 21, further hearing of a PIL from Jawaharlal Shanmugam, which sought a direction to authorities to provide ramp facility mandatorily from the topmost floor to ground floor for easy evacuation of patients in all high rise hospital buildings.

The PIL also sought a direction to authorities to take appropriate action for all violations, including planning permission, approval, completion certificate norm and fire safety rules and regulation violations.

In its interim order, the Bench said J. Radhakrishnan, health secretary and A. Karthik, Member-Secretary, CMDA, were present. It was submitted before the court that the MCI provided in the regulations for a ramp in teaching-cum-hospital institutions. This was so as the jurisdiction would only be in respect thereof.

“We are however, also concerned with hospitals which may not have teaching facilities as well as hospitals which were already constructed prior to those regulations coming into force. It is conceded by all the respondents (authorities) that in buildings which have at least come up post 2009 and post the regulations whether teaching-cum-hospitals or only hospitals must have ramp facility and that necessary changes would be made in the regulations for the said purpose.

As for as hospitals before regulations came into force are concerned, it is submitted that such ramp will be made mandatory subject to space being available. In case of absence of space, some alternative arrangements would be thought of”, the Bench added.