State told to ensure hospitals follow fire safety norms

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar, before whom the PIL filed by Jawaharlal Shanmugam of Tiruvanmiyur came up for hearing on Friday, said, “It is expected that the Committee will devise a comprehensive and detailed plan for installation of ramps and fire fighters - fire evacuation devices in the hospitals, education institutions, etc. and submit its report to the court.”

Also, the bench, on accounting for the petitioner’s plea to direct all the concerned authorities to provide ramp facility as a mandatory rule from the top most floors to ground floor for easy evacuation of the patients, said since the petitioner has been included in the committee of experts he might give his suggestion to the committee not only with regard to the measures that might be taken, but also intimate the committee of experts in the field, whose advices and the assistance might be taken. 

As per the earlier directions of the bench, the state Government constituted a committee of experts consisting of Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, Joint Director, Fire and Rescue Services, Chennai and other six eminent members, including the petitioner Jawaharlal Shanmugam. 

The state government’s guidelines framed in July 2016 mandates ramps in all hospitals built after 2007 to help evacuate patients in case of emergencies. While the maximum height for new hospital buildings has been capped at 30 metres, all government and private hospitals have been asked to display in suitable places, within the premises, a declaration listing the fire safety measures and escape routes provided in the hospital. 

Moreover, the setback area should be free of any obstruction to facilitate free movement of vehicles and people during emergency. The bench, on offering four months’ time to make progress in the installation of ramps in all private and government hospitals, posted the matter for further hearing to February 09, 2018.