CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has issued notice to MIOT Hospitals in Manapakkam following a PIL seeking criminal action against the hospital for its alleged negligence in illegally constructing buildings on the banks of the Adyar river, resulting in the death of several patients during the floods.
The first bench of Chief Justice SK Kaul and Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana also issued notice to the authorities of the State government including the Chief Secretary, returnable by February 16.
In his PIL, activist ‘Traffic’ KR Ramaswamy submitted that the hospital, consisting of 10 floors, was built in a low-lying area very close to the Adayar river. The CMDA and the Corporation of Chennai will not normally grant approval for construction within a radius of 100m of any water or river channels. In this case, the rule was violated and the approval was granted for the building plans. Even the buildings were not constructed as per the plan approval. During the recent heavy rains,the Adyar River was in spate breaching the hospital compound wall and damaging the power units in the Hospital. The hospital also violated medical rules with no mobile generators or backup generators for power supply being provided, resulting in the death of 18 patients for want of oxygen. He prayed for a direction to the police authorities to initiate criminal action against MIOT Hospitals for their willful negligence.