Calcutta High Court orders the closure of Sass Med Private Limited, Beniapukur by March 31, citing severe fire safety violations. The court grants a one and a half months’ grace period, allowing the facility to address safety concerns and seek modifications if compliance is met.
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The Calcutta High Court has mandated the shutdown of Sass Med Private Limited, a nursing home located in Beniapukur, by March 31. This decision comes after the establishment was found violating fire safety regulations, posing a risk to patients, staff, and the surrounding community.
Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya, presiding over the case, emphasized the critical nature of the violations and the potential hazards they pose. In a statement made on Tuesday, Justice Bhattacharyya ordered the nursing home “to stop the functioning of the clinical establishment being run from the disputed property at Premise No. “This directive underscores the court’s commitment to upholding safety standards and protecting public health.
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Recognizing the immediate impact of such a closure on the patients currently receiving care at the facility, the court has provided a grace period of one and a half months. This timeframe is intended to facilitate the safe and orderly transfer of patients to other facilities, ensuring that their treatment continues uninterrupted.
Moreover, the High Court clarified that the closure order does not preclude the nursing home from taking corrective measures. The court stated, “nothing in this order shall prevent” the nursing home “from making endeavour to ensure that all the fire safety norms are satisfied.” This provision offers a pathway for the establishment to rectify the identified shortcomings and potentially resume operations, contingent upon the approval of their fire safety measures by state authorities.
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The court’s decision reflects a balanced approach, acknowledging the immediate risks associated with continuing operations under the current conditions.
“In view of the nature of the work being done from the establishment, the same, if stopped overnight, would hamper the interest of various patients and some time was given to the establishment to stop,”
– the court noted.
This consideration highlights the court’s sensitivity to the needs of the patients and the potential consequences of an abrupt closure.
However, the ruling also firmly addresses the broader implications of allowing the nursing home to operate in violation of fire safety norms. The court pointed out that continuing operations
“would perpetuate the safety hazard to the patients housed therein as well as the doctors and other staff functioning therefrom, apart from the other residents of the building and the owners as well as the entire neighborhood and the public at large.”
This statement underscores the court’s determination to prevent any harm that could arise from neglecting fire safety standards.
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The Calcutta High Court’s order emphasizes the crucial need for Sass Med Private Limited to comply with fire safety regulations, underscoring the importance of safety measures.
