The Delhi High Court has directed the AAP government to reply on a plea seeking direction to install CCTV cameras and depute security guards at all government hospitals in the national capital under its jurisdiction.
Justice Pratibha Rani issued notices to the authorities concerned on the plea by a staff nurse who alleged she was stalked by a patient within the hospital, where she works, and this would not have happened if CCTV cameras were installed.
She alleged that though the matter was communicated to the patient's doctor, who also works at the same hospital, as well as the management there, no action was taken with regard to the incident of December 31 last year.
In her plea, filed through advocate Rajesh Sharma, she sought direction to the police to lodge a case against the doctor and the hospital, as no action was taken on her complaint and alleged she and her colleague were threatened of dire consequences.
The court has now fixed the matter for July 12, by when the government was asked to file its status report.
The petition states it is "responsibility of area municipal body, police and the hospital to comply with the Vishaka guidelines, for formation of committee to investigate case of sexual harassment against women at workplace and provide safety and security to the petitioner."
"The authorities concerned are responsible for installing CCTV cameras in all hospitals, but they failed to do so," the plea said.
The nurse also claimed in her plea that the doctor under question allegedly has the habit of outraging modesty of women employees and nurses by way of filthy, abusive, foul language.
"Respondent No 2 (Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal) in his manifesto committed to act for security and safety of women in Delhi, by way of installing CCTV cameras and private guards, but after becoming chief minister he failed to act in this direction," the plea said.
She also sought damages and compensation to the tune of Rs 25 lakh each from the authorities concerned and Kejriwal for the "loss and inconvenience suffered by her due to being deprived of her legal right (under Vishaka guidelines)".
