State Human Rights Commission Directs Compensation for Patient Trapped in Lift

Incident Overview

Thiruvananthapuram: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) of Kerala has mandated the State Government to compensate a patient who was trapped in a lift at the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) for 42 hours. The commission has ordered a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to be paid to the patient, a resident of Pongumoodu, within two months.

Details of the Order

In the ruling, SHRC Chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas stated that the government may pursue recovery of the compensation amount from those accountable, in accordance with legal provisions. The incident occurred in July 2025, when the lift was malfunctioning but had not been locked or marked with a warning sign.

Commission’s Action

The SHRC acted on its own initiative after reviewing media reports, and the affected patient had also lodged a separate complaint regarding the incident. The commission confirmed that the patient was trapped in the lift from 11:15 AM on July 13, 2025, until 6 AM on July 15, 2025, with no warning signs indicating the lift’s malfunctioning status.

Inquiry Findings

The inquiry revealed that the lift had a history of frequent malfunctions and continued to break down even after repairs, indicating a need for increased caution. The commission highlighted the seriousness of the situation, noting that thousands of patients visit the medical college daily. It remarked that the patient survived “only due to sheer luck.”

Official Negligence

According to the latest report by Onmanorama, the SHRC’s order emphasized “grave dereliction of duty and serious negligence” by the officials involved, indicating that the patient’s life was at risk. The commission also stated that if any lapses were identified concerning the company responsible for the lift’s maintenance, the government was authorized to take legal action against it.

Additional Directives

Justice Alexander Thomas has instructed the submission of a compliance report following the disbursement of the compensation. Furthermore, the SHRC has ordered the superintendent of the Thiruvananthapuram MCH to ensure that the patient receives all necessary treatment free of charge, addressing the physical and mental trauma incurred due to the incident. The commission also directed that access to a clinical psychologist should be provided if necessary.