Oppn seeks action against govt officers

Opposition Congress and BJP today demanded action against government officials whose alleged negligence sparked a major fire at the Sum Hospital that claimed 24 lives, even as the hospital owner Manoj Ranjan Nayak returned to jail on completion of 2-day police remand.
Nayak, who was arrested after he surrendered before police on Thursday, today filed a petition in the Khurdha District and Sessions court seeking bail.
The hearing is slated to be held on Tuesday, said Nayak's advocate S N Das.
Police produced Nayak in the SDJM court which sent him back to the jail. The court, however, asked the jail authorities to conduct health checkup of Nayak.

"We had approached the court to consider Nayak's health condition before sending him to the jail again," advocate Das said.
During his police remand, police have grilled Nayak on various aspects including functioning of the hospital even after the expiry of registration as per the clinical establishment act. "We have received vital information for investigation," said Y B Khurania, the Commissioner of police.

Besides Nayak, four others have so far been arrested and sent to jail.
Police, which have been interrogating other functionaries of Sum Hospital, said it would issue notice to Saswati Das, a trustee member of Sikshya O Anusandhan Charitable Trust that runs Sum Hospital.

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Senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra said, "Senior officials of health, fire services, Bhubaneswar Development Authority and district administration should also be brought under the purview of the probe and their role behind negligence need to be scrutinised."
Former OPCC President and senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik said, "We welcome the arrest of hospital owner. But, the hospital authorities were not alone responsible for violation of fire safety and other norms. The officials should also be booked."
Chief Minister's Office sources said it has asked the Health, Urban Development and Home department to find out the officials directly or indirectly responsible for granting conditional permission to run the hospital without meeting the guidelines and norms.