SH Hospital asked to file affidavit

KOCHI: The High Court on Tuesday directed the administrator of Sacred Heart psychiatric hospital in Thodupuzha to file an affidavit stating whether they are paying the nursing staff the stipulated minimum wages.A Division Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice P R Ramachandra Menon, passed the order while considering a petition filed by the SH hospital, seeking police protection. The court also directed the police to provide adequate protection to the hospital. The nurses’ associations have proposed to go on strike on February 10. At present, there are 560 mental patients in the hospital.  The petitioner submitted that most of the patients are kept in locked wards owing to their violent nature. Any disruption in the regular treatment will have adverse effect on the them.