Delhi Lt. Governor V.K. Saxena ordered a corruption probe into a recent hospital fire, taking a swipe at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) yet to respond to Saxena’s statements. Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj has mandated an audit of safety equipment in all city hospitals. The investigation highlights ongoing tensions between the Lt. Governor and the Delhi government.
New Delhi: The devastating fire at a Delhi children’s hospital last week, which tragically claimed the lives of seven infants, drawn sharp criticism from Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. Expressing his disappointment, Saxena criticized Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj for what he described as their inadequate response and evasion of accountability following the tragic event.
He stated,
“I find it necessary to initiate an anti-corruption investigation into the oversight and registration practices of private nursing homes in the city, compelled by a duty to the public interest.”
Saxena instructed the Anti-Corruption Branch to conduct a thorough examination into the licensing of nursing homes in Delhi.
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He elaborated,
“The ACB will investigate the extent to which nursing homes operate without valid registrations and whether those registered are adhering to the established standards.”
Alleging a lack of governmental oversight, criminal negligence, and collusion of officials in granting or renewing licenses for nursing homes, a public figure has claimed that he compelled to intervene due to the authorities’ lack of seriousness in fulfilling their responsibilities.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) not yet responded to these statements. However, the Health Minister, Saurabh Bhardwaj, ordered a mandatory audit of safety equipment in every city hospital. He also vowed to impose the “strictest punishment” on those found guilty.
Furthermore, the Delhi government initiated a magistrate-level inquiry into the fire incident.
The investigation into the devastating hospital fire uncovered significant lapses in the hospital’s safety measures and staffing. It found that the hospital lacked an emergency exit system in case of a fire, and did not have the required no-objection certificate for its operations.
Further, the hospital operating with 10 more beds than it, authorized to have, leading to an overcrowded situation when the fire broke out. This resulted in a panicked response, as staff, patients, and caregivers rushed to escape the blaze.
Perhaps most alarmingly, it discovered that at least two of the doctors on duty at the time of the incident were not qualified to provide intensive neonatal care. These doctors held only Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) degrees, rather than the appropriate medical credentials.
As a result of these findings, the hospital owner, Dr. Naveen Khichi, and one other doctor have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Mr. Saxena stated,
“I hold a very serious stance on this issue. Despite it falling under the jurisdiction of the Delhi government, I feel compelled to intervene in the broader public interest due to the apparent lack of commitment from the responsible authorities,”
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of the Delhi government , Mr. Saxena instructed the Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate the number of nursing homes operating without proper permits, including those pertaining to fire safety.
In his letter, he asserted,
“My understanding is that out of the 1,190 nursing homes in Delhi, more than 25% are functioning without valid registration. Moreover, there exist numerous nursing homes that operate without ever seeking registration. Even those possessing valid licenses might not conform to the safety and regulatory mandates outlined in the Delhi Nursing Homes Registration Act.”
Mr. Saxena, who often engaged in heated exchanges with Arvind Kejriwal and his associates, accused the Delhi government of failing to properly address and investigate such serious matters, effectively sweeping them under the rug.
He remarked,
“The presence of these nursing homes, dedicated to serving the economically disadvantaged, clearly indicates the dire inadequacy of public health infrastructure. This highlights a broader, yet ignored problem.”
On Sunday, Mr. Saxena instructed the Chief Secretary and the city’s Police Commissioner (who reports to the Union Home Minister) to initiate an investigation.
Earlier this month, Mr. Saxena also ordered the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to conduct a probe against Mr. Kejriwal regarding allegations that he received funds from the banned Sikhs For Justice group, which is led by the wanted terrorist Gurpatwant Pannun.
In the past few weeks, Mr. Saxena also intervened in the Swati Maliwal case. The Delhi Lieutenant Governor, as many would have expected, has voiced support for Ms. Maliwal, who has accused an aide of Mr. Kejriwal of assault. The Lieutenant Governor expressed that he “deeply distressed” by the entire incident.