New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted the Kerala government one week to file a counter affidavit on a petition challenging a slew of guidelines issued by the state high court, including requiring clinical institutions to prominently display the list of services offered and package prices.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the order after the lawyer representing the state sought one week’s time to file the affidavit.
While granting time to the state, the court said the petitioners of Kerala Private Hospitals Association and a person named Hussain Koya Thangal may file their rejoinder within two weeks after that.
The Supreme Court said that its interim order issued on December 16 last year directing the authorities not to take any coercive measures against members of the association will continue until the next hearing on March 24.
In December last year, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the petition challenging the Kerala High Court ruling and issued notice to the state government and others on the same.
A division bench of the Supreme Court delivered the judgment on November 26, 2025 while dismissing the appeals against the order of the single judge who dismissed a petition challenging various provisions of the Kerala Clinical Institutions Act, 2018.
Upholding the single judge order of June 23, the Supreme Court bench issued the guidelines to ensure effective implementation of the law, consistent with its objectives and the spirit of its preamble.
Issuing a slew of guidelines, the Supreme Court said that every clinical institution must prominently display, in Malayalam as well as in English, at its reception or admission desk and on its official website a list of services provided and the base and package prices for commonly performed procedures, noting that unexpected complications or additional procedures must be detailed.
Besides other guidelines, it said every clinical institution should maintain a grievance desk or helpline and register every complaint with a unique reference number, and issue an acknowledgment immediately through text messages, WhatsApp or in physical form.
“All price lists, brochures and website information must be kept up to date. Any change in services, prices or grievance contact details must be updated immediately, clearly indicating the revision date,” the Supreme Court said.
Failure to comply with these guidelines should attract regulatory action under the law, including suspension or cancellation of registration and imposition of penalties, in addition to any civil, criminal or constitutional remedies available to patients, it said.
The single judge of the Supreme Court dismissed the challenge to various provisions of the Kerala Medical Institutions Act, 2018 and the Kerala Medical Institutions Rules, 2018.
The petition filed had challenged some provisions of the law, including the obligation to publish a list of fees that will be charged for each element of treatment and “packages.”
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