“Unfortunate that PIL is necessary”, Delhi HC in plea to improve working conditions of nurses

The Delhi High Court last week directed that the findings of a Committee, constituted to examine issues regarding the working conditions of nurses, be placed before it within four weeks..The order was made in a petition filed by Indian Professional Nurses Association, seeking the compliance of the Supreme Court’s judgment in Trained Nurses Association of India v. Union of India with regard to the working conditions of nurses in private hospitals and nursing homes..In May this year, the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar had issued notice to the Centre and the Delhi government. On the most recent hearing last week, the Court was told that a Committee was constituted by the Directorate General of Health Services, Govt. of NCT of Delhi..In the aforementioned judgment, the Supreme Court had ordered the central government to form a Committee to look into the grievances enlisted by the Trained Nurses Association and make recommendations which could ultimately be given the form of a legislation..The grievances mentioned by Association included unequal remuneration in private and government hospitals and insisting of bonds from nurses by the hospitals among other issues..The Division Bench of the Delhi High Court, in its earlier order, had observed,.“It is unfortunate that public interest litigation in these important areas is necessary and that voluntary steps are not taken by the authorities concerned.” .Appearing for the petitioner association in the Delhi HC, Dr. Amit George submitted that Entry 26 of List III Concurrent List (Seventh Schedule) of the Constitution of India includes includes legal, medical and other professions and therefore Union of India is authorized to draw the guidelines which would bind all the States..The Centre is now required to place a consideration before the Court on the next date of hearing on November 3..Read the order: