Botched surgeries: HC takes suo moto cognisance; seeks report

Bilaspur, Nov 12: The Chhattisgarh High Court on Wednesday sought a detailed report within ten days from the state government on the botched sterilisation surgeries in Bilaspur district, after it took suo moto cognisance of the the incident, which left 11 women dead and many critical.

The court has appointed two advocates-- Salim Kazia and Sunita Jain-- as amicus curiae (friend of the court) to assist it on the tragedy.

The division bench comprising Justice T P Sharma and Justice Inder Singh Uboweja took a serious note of the news reports on the death of 11 women after tubectomies at a government-organised sterilisation camp in Pedari village of Takhatpur block on Saturday, advocate Kazi told PTI.

Questioning the state government on why such incidents are repeatedly happening, the bench asked them to submit a detailed report on the sterilisation incident within 10 days before the court, Kazi said. The court has also asked the government to provide best possible treatment to the affected women admitted in various hospitals and also take care of their relatives.

The court also asked the state government to apprise the amicus curiae on the day-to-day developments so that they can further brief the court, he said. On November 8, about 83 women had undergone surgeries at a sterilisation camp held at Nemichand Jain Cancer and Research Centre at Pendari village in Takhatpur.

Later, almost all of them, aged below 32, were hospitalised after they developed post-operative complications. While, 11 of them died in the past two days, 69 have taken ill and some are in critical condition.

A three-member committee has been constituted to investigate the incident even as four health officials including two senior doctors - Chief Medical and Health Officer of Bilaspur R K Bhange, laparoscopic surgeon Dr R K Gupta, State Programme Convener, family planning, Dr K C Urao and Block Medical Officer, Takhatpur, Dr Pramod Tiwari - were suspended in this connection.

An FIR has also been lodged against the surgeon under whose supervision the sterilisation camp was organised. The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those undergoing treatment, the cost of which will be borne by the government.

PTI