new delhi, Aug 7
The top court also said that it will lay broad guidelines for hospitals and the law enforcement agencies to deal with victims of grave offences
The Supreme Court on Friday directed two Ghaziabad-based private hospitals to pay a total of Rs 12 lakh in compensation to the family of a four-year-old rape victim who died after allegedly being denied emergency medical treatment. The court also said it would frame broad guidelines for hospitals and law enforcement agencies on handling victims of grave offences.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana passed the directions while hearing a plea filed by the victim’s father, a daily wager, seeking a court-monitored investigation by either a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or the CBI. Taking note of the report submitted by the apex court-appointed SIT, the bench observed that the child, who was bleeding profusely, remained alive for nearly five hours but was allegedly denied treatment by the two hospitals, ultimately leading to her death.
The court directed Ghaziabad-based super speciality St Joseph (Mariam) Hospital to pay Rs 10 lakh and Khajan Singh Mannvi Health Care to pay Rs 2 lakh to the victim’s father within four weeks.
sssThe bench also said it would lay down broad guidelines for hospitals and law enforcement agencies to ensure proper handling of victims of grave offences.
According to the case, on March 16, the four-year-old girl was allegedly lured away by a neighbour.
When she failed to return home, her father searched for her and found her unconscious and soaked in blood.
Her family first rushed her to the two private hospitals, where treatment was allegedly refused. She was then taken to a government hospital in Ghaziabad, where doctors declared her dead.
The Supreme Court had earlier expressed serious concern over the handling of the case. In April, it flagged the Ghaziabad Police’s “reluctance” in registering an FIR and carrying out the investigation. During the hearing on April 10, the apex court had also lambasted the Ghaziabad Police’s “insensitive approach” in probing the case.
It subsequently issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government, the station house officer (SHO) of the police station concerned, the two hospitals and the executive magistrate
