HC orders cops, goverment to tell hospitals victims of crime cannot be denied treatment
1 March 2013 6:35 AM IST
The Delhi high court on Thursday asked the Delhi government and Delhi police to ensure within a week proper publicity to their orders that all hospitals, including private ones, cannot deny treatment to victims of criminal offences, especially rape and road accidents.
After the high court court order, Delhi government and the city police had issued separate directions that the victims of criminal offences have to be taken to a nearby government or private hospitals which cannot turn them away. Earlier, the court had asked the city government to issue a direction to all hospitals in the capital not to deny treatment to victims of criminal offences.
The high court had taken suo motu cognisance of the 16 December gang rape of the 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus.
‘Pursuant to our earlier order, the Government of National Capital Territory Delhi (through principal secretary, health department) has issued directions on the issue on 21 February.
‘And, referring to the said order, the Commissioner of Police also issued directions to all police officials including ACPs to take to the victims to a nearby hospital irrespective of fact whether the hospital is government or private hospital,’ a division bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice V K Jain said.
Considering the directions of the government and police, the court asked them to ensure publicity of their orders within a week to create public awareness that victims have the right to be taken to a nearby hospital. The court said that the publicity will also make hospitals aware that they are under an obligation to provide treatment to victims.
The court also asked the government to prepare within three weeks the area-wise list of Delhi hospitals. It said that the list be provided to cops manning PCR vans so that they know the place where victims have to be taken. It said that it is up to the city and Union governments to devise rules or mechanism for reimbursing the expenses incurred on the treatment.
After the high court court order, Delhi government and the city police had issued separate directions that the victims of criminal offences have to be taken to a nearby government or private hospitals which cannot turn them away. Earlier, the court had asked the city government to issue a direction to all hospitals in the capital not to deny treatment to victims of criminal offences.
The high court had taken suo motu cognisance of the 16 December gang rape of the 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus.
‘Pursuant to our earlier order, the Government of National Capital Territory Delhi (through principal secretary, health department) has issued directions on the issue on 21 February.
‘And, referring to the said order, the Commissioner of Police also issued directions to all police officials including ACPs to take to the victims to a nearby hospital irrespective of fact whether the hospital is government or private hospital,’ a division bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice V K Jain said.
Considering the directions of the government and police, the court asked them to ensure publicity of their orders within a week to create public awareness that victims have the right to be taken to a nearby hospital. The court said that the publicity will also make hospitals aware that they are under an obligation to provide treatment to victims.
The court also asked the government to prepare within three weeks the area-wise list of Delhi hospitals. It said that the list be provided to cops manning PCR vans so that they know the place where victims have to be taken. It said that it is up to the city and Union governments to devise rules or mechanism for reimbursing the expenses incurred on the treatment.
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