Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and others have called the order unacceptable, crude, offensive and in violation of basic human rights.
Delhi government-run Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research is facing flak for the controversial order issued by it over nurses conversing in Malayalam in the hospital.
The communication, issued by the Nursing Superintendent, said that complaints had been received about the Malayalam language being used for communication at workplaces in GIPMER.
Stating that patients and colleagues were inconvenienced as they did not know the language, the Superintendent directed all nursing personnel to use only Hindi and English for communication or face serious action.
Reacting to the order, Congress Rajya Sabha MP KC Venugopal said, "Naturally, nurses belong to the same region would speak the language among themselves as it is their mother tongue. It is illogical to assume that they would speak in their mother tongue to a person who cannot speak that language. This circular is undoubtedly, highly discriminatory and denying the basic fundamental right guaranteed by our Constitution."
I urge to Hon'ble health Minister to order an immediate withdrawal of the bizarre & unconstitutional circular issued by the authorities of GIPMER. pic.twitter.com/RrNLSCObY8
— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp)
Venugopal shot off a letter to Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.
Another Congress MP, Shashi Tharoor, called the order unacceptable, crude, offensive and in violation of basic human rights.
It boggles the mind that in democratic India a government institution can tell its nurses not to speak in their mother tongue to others who understand them. This is unacceptable, crude,offensive and a violation of the basic human rights of Indian citizens. A reprimand is overdue! pic.twitter.com/za7Y4yYzzX
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor)
UPDATE: The controversial circular has been withdrawn. The Delhi Health Department has issued a memo to GIPMER. The Medical Superintendent at GB Pant Institute said that circular was issued by the nursing superintendent without any instructions/knowledge of hospital administration and the Delhi government.