The state government and the police has been directed by the Delhi High Court to ensure that proper publicity is being given to apprise the rape and other victims of road accident or criminal offenses about their right to speedy treatment in the nearby hospitals.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice VK Jain directed the Delhi government and police to publicise within a week the orders issued by them earlier that all hospitals including private ones cannot deny treatment to survivors of criminal offences especially rape and road accidents.
The Delhi government and the city police have also after the HC orders issued separate directions that the survivors of criminal offences have to be taken to a nearby government or private hospitals which cannot turn them away.
The court observed that pursuant to its earlier order, the Government of National Capital Territory Delhi (through Principal Secretary, health department) has issued directions on the issue on February 21.
The court also told that the Commissioner of Police has also issued directions to all police officials including ACPs to take to the survivors to a nearby hospital irrespective of fact whether the hospital is government or private hospital.
The court said that these orders of the Delhi government and Police should be given proper publicity through newspapers, radio TV and other media so that an awareness is there among the people and they should not be afraid of helping the victims.
The court directed that all these orders should be given publicity within a week so that the survivors know their rights that they can be taken to a nearby hospital, according to the bench.
