Maharashtra to deploy more cops to prevent attacks on doctors at hospitals

Mumbai: Maharashtra Government has decided to increase security at state-run hospitals in city by deploying more police personnel to prevent attack on doctors and staff by aggrieved relatives of patients, the Bombay High Court was told on Thursday.

Acting Advocate General Rohit Deo informed the HC that the government has decided to deploy 56 more policemen in state-run hospitals in the city.

"But these 56 policemen will not be stationed at the hospitals. They will be patrolling. Of the 56 policemen, 28 will be armed and the remaining will be homeguards. We will review this situation after a month and if required will deploy more police personnel who will be stationed at the hospitals," Deo said.

A division bench of Justices A S Oka and A A Sayed directed the acting AG to put all these details in an affidavit tomorrow.

Last week, the HC had observed that steps need to be taken at the earliest to ensure security in state and civic-run hospitals after it perused an affidavit filed by the government detailing the deployment of police personnel and security staff in such hospitals.

As per that affidavit, two policemen each are posted for security at J J Hospital, Sion hospital, St Georges Hospital, G T Hospital and Nair Hospital, while in KEM hospital four policemen are deployed.

A public interest litigation was filed in this regard by activist hospital highlighting the issue of doctors going on strike frequently causing inconvenience to patients.

On earlier hearings, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) had assured the HC that henceforth it would not give a call or go on strike anywhere in the state and would only hold peaceful demonstrations highlighting their grievances which included attacks on doctors by relatives.