Kerala High Court Grants Interim Protection To Man Accused Of Assaulting Female Doctor, Other Healthcare Staff

The Kerala High Court yesterday granted interim protection from arrest to a 37-year-old man accused of assaulting a female doctor and staff nurses who examined and treated him at the hospital. 

Justice Gopinath P ordered that the petitioner-accused shall not be arrested for a period of 10 days. 

The petitioner, who is reported to have inappropriately touched and assaulted doctor and staff nurses of St. James Hospital, is accused of the offence under Section 4 of the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2012. 

The said provision prescribes penalties for violence against healthcare service personnel. 

It is the petitioner's plea that the case was instituted on the basis of a misunderstanding, as he touched the female doctor accidentally during examination. He averred that the allegation that he had touched other healthcare personnel was only to buttress the case of the de-facto complainant, and the same was not believable. 

On these grounds, the petitioner had sought anticipatory bail. 

The matter is posted for further consideration on December 08, 2023.

The bail application has been moved through Advocates Manumon A, Rebin Vincent Gralan, Suresh C, Dinesh G Warrier and Jayan Kuttichakku

Case Title: Jins Francis v. State of Kerala, BAIL APPL. NO. 10695/2023

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