I agree with Mr. Hareshkumar that private hospitals having their repairing workshops and engaging in manufacturing processes, etc., will also qualify as a "factory" and be covered under the said Act. This issue has been decided by the Apex Court in the matter of Christian Medical College.
However, from the said judgment, it is clear that the act is applicable to hospitals having repairing workshops and engaging in manufacturing processes. Considering the said judgment, the act is applicable to hospitals with manufacturing activities and repairing workshops.
In light of the judgment, I am of the view that the act does not apply to hospitals without any manufacturing or repair activities.
If Section 1(3) of the act is read together with Sections 1(4) and 1(5), one can conclude that the provisions of the act were initially made applicable to factories, and further provisions for extensions of the act were made by issuing notifications. Therefore, for the purpose of extending the provisions of the act, notifications are required. However, no such notification has been published in connection with hospitals in the state of Maharashtra.