FIRs should be filed as soon as possible when a crimeagainst a doctor or healthcare professional isreported: Kerala High Court

On Thursday, the Kerala High Court mandated that the Police submit first information reports (FIRs) in
only one hour after receiving reports of any crime against medical professionals, including nurses and
other healthcare workers.
In order to ensure prompt action against the perpetrators, a division bench made up of Justices Devan
Ramachandran and Kauser Edappagath clarified that this can be done for offences under the special law
or the Indian Penal Code (IPC), but it must be done within an hour of the time the crime is reported.
According to the court, these crimes against medical personnel occur because the perpetrators may
believe that the legal system is cumbersome and that hospitals or authorities won’t be held
accountable. Additionally, it urged the government to make the seriousness of the crime and the
associated penalties for doctor attack publicly known.
Case:Kerala Private Hospitals Association v. Adv. Sabu P Joseph & Or