Mumbai: Woman alleges Cooper Hospital guard asked her to remove burqa before entering ward

Jahanara Shaikh, an advocate by profession; (right) the woman security guard at the hospital. Pics/By Special Arrangement

The BMC-run Dr RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital (Cooper Hospital) in Juhu is in the spotlight once again for the wrong reasons after a woman alleged that she was not allowed to enter the maternity ward as she was wearing a burqa. The alleged incident occurred on Sunday, August 30.

Jahanara Shaikh, an advocate by profession, also made a video of the incident. Shaikh, who was visiting a relative admitted to the maternity ward of the hospital, is seen confronting the security personnel after allegedly being told to remove her burqa before entering. Shaikh later claimed that she was eventually permitted inside after speaking with the hospital authorities.

Women stealing babies?

"I was visiting my relative in the maternity ward. But, the security guard on duty stopped me at the entrance and told me that women wearing a burqa would not be permitted inside," Shaikh told mid-day. Shaikh said she questioned the officer about the reason behind the restriction. According to her, the explanation she received was shocking. "The security guard told me that women hide babies inside their burqas and steal them," Shaikh alleged.

‘It is not justified'

While maternity wards generally have stricter access controls to safeguard mothers and newborns and prevent incidents such as infant theft, Shaikh questioned why a particular form of clothing should become the basis for denying entry. "If there is a security concern, the hospital can check every visitor entering and exiting the maternity ward. But stopping someone simply because she is wearing a burqa is not justified," Shaikh said.

She added that security measures should be based on objective checks rather than assumptions about people wearing a particular form of attire. "Security is important in a maternity ward, but there should be a proper procedure for everyone. Clothing cannot be treated as proof that someone poses a threat," she said.

Hospital apologises

Following the incident, the hospital administration immediately conducted an internal enquiry and issued a show cause notice to the lady security guard in question. "At Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle, a female security guard on duty asked a woman who had come to visit the neonatal ward to remove her burqa.

At that time, the security guard should have said - ‘Show your face' or ‘Move the veil aside.' Later, the security guard apologised to the woman for this incident. Stricter security measures have been implemented for the safety of newborn babies. Additionally, the hospital administration has issued a show cause notice to the security guard in this matter," said Dr Chaya Shinde, dean.