The Kerala High Court in the case A v The Assistant Commissioner Of Police And Others observed wherein the petition is moved by a 22-year-old girl who allegedly sustained burn injuries on her body from taking a steam bath as part of the Ayurveda spa package at the Kumarakom Heritage Resort, Kottayam district.
The bench headed by Justice Devan Ramachandran in the case observed and has expressed his anguish at the condition of the petitioner and orally stated ‘resorts and spa should be controlled’.
It has been alleged by her that she sustained burn injuries on her body and had to undergo plastic surgeries and skin grafting due to the criminal negligence committed by the Resort.
The court in the case observed and has directed the petitioner for filing the complaint at Vaikom Police Station in Kottayam district since the resort is located under its jurisdiction.
The court also directed the petitioner to implead the Station House Officer of the Vaikom Police Station.
The petition moves stated that the petitioner had sustained burn injuries while she was inside the steam bath box. It is alleged that she cried for help when the steam became unbearable, but nobody came to help her, and she later became unconscious. Thus, the personnel in the resort delayed medical aid to the petitioner and the therapists in the resort provided improper treatment to her, it is alleged.
Further, the petitioner stated that she had to undergo multiple plastic surgeries and underwent skin grafting as a result of the burn injuries.
The petitioner in the plea stated that the petitioner would not be able to lead a normal life in the future due to the disfiguration of her body from the burn injuries. She alleges that the persons in charge of the resort were dutty-bound to conduct periodical inspections and to run the resort by taking proper care and attention in compliance with statutory conditions for regulating the resort and Ayurveda spa.
In the present case, the petitioner filed the complaint before the Assistant Commissioner of Police and sought a direction from the court for the registration of a criminal complaint against the resort.
Therefore, she in the case also seeks adequate compensation from the resort for loss of physical beauty and for sustaining burn injuries.
The counsel, Advocate Suja Padnaban Pillai, Advocate G Rajan Patayil appeared for the Petitioner.
The counsel, Government Pleader Sunil Kumar Kuriakose represented the respondents.