A bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia issued notices to Ministry of Health and Family Affairs and state governments on a PIL alleging that harassment and hostile attitude of the various hospital authorities under them, continuously violating the fundamental rights of various nurses working all over India.
The PIL filed by Indian Professional Nurses' Association (IPNA) submitted that the nurses are "literally treated as bonded labourers and are asked to make payment to get back their certificates".
IPNA's advocate Deepak Prakash submitted that there are no guidelines to protect and safeguard the interest of nurses working in various hospitals in different states and the authorities concerned are unnecessary harassing them.
The association said the present petition was filed for the enforcement of fundamental rights of working professional nurses under Article 14, 19 & 21 of constitutional in view of the prevailing circumstances whereby these nurses are exploited at their work places every day in one way or the other.
The IPNA submitted that it was drawing the attention of the court to the practice of obtaining "service bonds" in the nature of forced labour by hospitals and compelling them to work against their 'will' and causing harassment by compelling them to deposit huge amount for releasing the certificates of qualification' and they are even subjected to sexual harassment. (MORE)
