The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has revoked the licence of a Kandivali-based healthcare facility found operating without valid authorisation.
The move follows a complaint to the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), which has now confirmed that the civic authorities took sufficient corrective measures, leading to the closure of the case. The hospital, operating under the name “Trident Hospital” in Kandivali East, came under regulatory scrutiny after allegations of unauthorised construction and illegal operations surfaced. Acting on documents obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) mechanism, complainants had accused the civic health administration of failing to enforce licensing norms and public safety protocols. Following public interest intervention, the SHRC directed the MCGM to carry out a fact-finding inquiry and submit a detailed response. In an official affidavit submitted to the Commission, the civic body confirmed that the hospital was originally registered under the Bombay Nursing Home Registration Act, 1949, as a small nursing home occupying designated rooms in a residential complex in Kandivali. However, subsequent inspections revealed that it had extended operations to unauthorised premises and was functioning beyond its permitted scope.
The MCGM stated that a formal notice was issued in August 2024, and the hospital’s registration was officially cancelled on 28 August 2024. But even after the cancellation, officials discovered a second facility, also under the name “Trident Hospital,” operating from different rooms in the same building without a valid licence. Deeming it a serious violation, the civic body proceeded to file a First Information Report (FIR) under Sections 3 and 6 of the Bombay Nursing Home Registration Act, which governs the licensing and functioning of private hospitals and nursing homes in the city. These sections make it a punishable offence to run a medical facility without prior registration and authorisation.
To alert the public, MCGM further issued a notice at the premises, explicitly declaring the facility as unregistered and unauthorised. The civic officials emphasised that this was done not just as an enforcement measure but also as a public safety alert, urging citizens to avoid seeking medical care from establishments lacking legal credentials. Experts within Mumbai’s public health administration noted that such enforcement actions were long overdue, especially in urban pockets where private healthcare infrastructure had proliferated without stringent regulatory oversight. They also stressed that illegal operations pose a grave risk not only to public health but also to the ethical foundation of healthcare delivery.
The SHRC, after reviewing MCGM’s response and the attached documentation, acknowledged the civic body’s timely and adequate action in the matter. It further observed that all essential steps—ranging from the issuance of warnings to legal proceedings—had been carried out to safeguard public interest. The complaint was subsequently disposed of. While the hospital in question has been shut down, the incident has reignited debate over the lack of proactive surveillance and regulatory lapses in healthcare licensing in fast-expanding suburbs like Kandivali. Civil society groups and urban governance experts argue that the incident reveals broader gaps in Mumbai’s healthcare compliance ecosystem—whereby reactive enforcement often replaces proactive oversight.
According to health policy analysts, such incidents compromise not only patient safety but also public trust in the healthcare system. Urban residents are often left to navigate an opaque environment in which the legitimacy of healthcare providers is not clearly advertised or scrutinised until a complaint is lodged. There is growing public demand for the creation of a publicly accessible registry of licensed hospitals and clinics across Mumbai, regularly updated and backed by digital verification, to empower citizens in making informed choices. There is also a call to strengthen inspection teams and digital monitoring frameworks for real-time updates on licensing statuses and medical malpractice complaints.
In the context of building equitable and sustainable urban systems, health governance holds central importance. As India’s financial capital, Mumbai cannot afford to let compliance failures in critical sectors like healthcare go unchecked, especially when the consequences could compromise public health and human rights. While the authorities have taken appropriate action in this instance, the challenge lies in institutionalising preventive systems that can curb such violations at the root. A robust, transparent, and publicly accountable healthcare licensing framework is essential if cities like Mumbai are to deliver on their promise of safe, inclusive, and sustainable urban living.
The closure of the illegal facility may bring temporary relief, but it also serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for civic bodies, public health departments, and citizens to collaborate in creating a future where healthcare is not only accessible but also accountable.
MCGM Acts Against Illegal Kandivali Hospital, Notifies SHRC
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