Allahabad High Court Takes Suo Moto Cognizance Of Rodent Menace In A Prayagraj Hospital

Directing for the registration of the matter as a suo moto PIL, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Kshitij Shailendra ordered the authorities to submit information about the steps taken by the hospital administration to control the menace.

Essentially, in the said newspaper, a report was published on Wednesday (January 17) highlighting the menace of rodents in the hospital to the extent that they are causing harm to the medicines and other articles stored in the hospital.

The said report also referred to the statement of Dr. Ajay Saxena, Chief Superintendent, SRN Hospital, who admitted that despite best efforts, the menace is still prevailing and options are being explored to deal with it.

In its order, the Court observed that if the news item is correct, it is a 'potential threat' to the patients visiting the hospital and those who are already admitted therein and a health hazard.

Further, in response to the Court's query as to what are the instructions in the matter, the Additional Advocate General submitted that the work of controlling rodent menace in the hospital has been outsourced to a housekeeping agency which is taking several measures to control the rodents, like providing rodent traps, rat pads, rat kill, etc.

It was also submitted that the agency had assured the Chief Superintendent of taking the issue with all seriousness and to lodge a special drive to contain the menace.

Though it was also submitted that the presence of rodents is only due to attendants of patients who bring eatables inside the premises of the hospital, the Court was not impressed by the said submission as it observed that the same doesn't justify the helplessness of the authorities and staff of the hospital.

Further, stressing that the issue is of public importance, affecting the health of those visiting the hospital and taking treatment there, the Court decided to monitor the measures being taken to control the menace.

Accordingly, the Court directed the Chief Superintendent, of SRN Hospital to bring on record the details of the contract entered into by SRN Hospital with the Agency; the amount paid to the said Agency; the steps taken by the Agency to control the problem; and the steps, the respondents have taken or propose to take, to prevent breeding of rodents in and around the SRN Hospital.

The matter would be heard next on February 12.

Case title – Suo Motu In Re: Rodents Menace In Srn Hospital vs. State of U.P [PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL) No. - 18 of 2024]

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