Kerala High Court Directs KeLSA To Inspect Safety, Medical Standards At Public Hospitals, Submit Report In Six Weeks

The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji, was hearing a writ petition filed calling for safety standards at public medical facilities, following the collapse of Kottayam Medical College building.

During the hearing, the State Attorney informed the court that the Grievance Redressal Committee, mandated under the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2018, has been constituted by a government order dated August 19, 2025. The Committee is intended to provide a forum for citizens to raise complaints regarding the functioning of clinical establishments and government hospitals.

On the framing of rules under Section 4(1)(e) of the Act of 2018, the Additional Chief Secretary, Family Welfare Department, submitted that the process has been initiated and is expected to take at least three months for completion.

Meanwhile, the Bench emphasized the need to strengthen the functioning of the newly formed Grievance Redressal Committee. In this context, the counsel representing KeLSA stated that District Legal Services Authorities could depute personnel to inspect hospitals under their jurisdiction. These visits would focus on infrastructure, hygiene, availability of medicines, and adequacy of human resources. The findings would be compiled and forwarded both to the Grievance Redressal Committee and the State Government for further action.

The bench, thus posted the matter after six weeks, and stated that it expects the completion of the initiative by then.

Case Title - G Samuel & Others v State of Kerala (Deleted) & Others

Case No - WP (PIL ) 74/ 2025

Counsel for Petitioners - Alex K John, Satheesh T P, Jilcy Jacob, Sijin Stanley, Cyrian Elias Steen, Sreekuttan M , Suresh P N, Arun K V, Ninan Thomas, Gego George, Prathitha Mariyam Thomas

Counsel for Respondents - N Manoj Kumar (State Attorney), Leo Lukose

Amicus Curiae - Renjith Thampan (Sr.) 

Click Here To Read/ Download Interim Order