Visitor at Juhu's Cooper Hospital Alleges Guard Barred Entry Over Burqa

A visitor to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation-run Dr RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital in Juhu was allegedly stopped from entering the maternity ward on Sunday, August 30, because she was wearing a burqa.

The visitor, advocate Jahanara Shaikh, had arrived at the civic-run hospital to visit an admitted relative. According to Shaikh, a woman security guard stationed at the hospital intercepted her and denied her entry into the maternity section unless she removed her burqa.

Shaikh alleged that the security guard justified the restriction by claiming that women could hide newborn babies under burqas and steal them from the ward.

Following the confrontation, Shaikh recorded a video of the exchange with the security personnel on the hospital premises. In the video, Shaikh is seen confronting the guard and questioning the directive to remove her attire before being permitted inside.

Shaikh stated that she was eventually allowed to enter the maternity ward and meet her relative after she brought the matter to the attention of Cooper Hospital authorities.

The alleged incident has once again placed the BMC-run Cooper Hospital in Juhu in the spotlight over the conduct of its security personnel and the handling of visitors.