“Consider representation highlighting inadequacies in Delhi Nursing Home Registration Act”: High Court directs Delhi Govt.

The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi government and concerned authorities to consider the representation highlighting all the deficiencies or inadequacies in the Delhi Nursing Home Registration Act, 1953.

While disposing of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL), a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said, “the Writ Petition was disposed of by this Court with a liberty to the Petitioner to submit a representation to the authorities highlighting all the deficiencies or inadequacies in the Delhi Nursing Home Registration Act, 1953 and the Respondents were directed to consider the said representation”.

The Counsel for Delhi Government submitted that the petitioner’s representation had been received and would be considered and that the State will issue appropriate orders by the law. He further sought eight week time to dispose of the representation and assured the bench that all the genuine prayers will be considered.

In the plea, the petitioner Jyoti Nambiar sought a report of progress, status, and the concerned authority's action plan to amend/omit the Delhi Nursing Home Registration Act, 1953, and/or progress of enactment of any legislation, if any, within a time frame. She also sought direction from all the respondents to develop guidelines for a more vigilant and affirmative role in registering and inspecting Private Nursing Homes, Maternity Centers, and Hospitals in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.

Jyoti further sought directions to all respondents to submit reports/data on registered and unregistered nursing homes, medical centres, and hospitals operating in Delhi. The plea also sought directions to all respondents to submit a report on what action was taken against unregistered hospitals, nursing homes, and maternity centres, as well as how many were subsequently registered after the action was taken against them.

Furthermore, the petitioner sought directions to all respondents to submit reports in cases where licences were revoked and registration was denied based on inspections of private nursing homes, hospitals, and maternity centres.

Case Title: Ms. Jyoti Nambiar v. Govt. of NCT Delhi & Ors.

Statue: The Delhi Nursing Home Registration Act, 1953