Kendrapara: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a show cause notice to Delhi Chief Secretary over the death of an Odia boy who died of dengue due to negligence in treatment in the national capital. Unable to bear the grief, the parents of the deceased also committed suicide a few days later. The boy passed away September 8, 2015.
The Commission has asked the Delhi government to reply within eight weeks as to why adequate monetary relief should not be paid to the next of kin of the deceased family of Laxman Rout, who committed suicide along with his wife Babita after the death of the only child Avinash, at Lado Sarai in Delhi.
In his petition, activist Radhakant Tripathy has alleged that Laxman and his wife were staying in a rented house at Lado Sarai of South Delhi. The couple had tried their best to get their son admitted to hospitals but were turned down by Moolchand Hospital and later by Max Super Specialty Hospital at Saket as beds were not available in either of the two.
Later, Laxman’s son was admitted at Batra Hospital and Medical Research Centre in a very critical condition where he breathed his last. After their son’s death, the couple went into depression and committed suicide by jumping from the top of their four-storey building they were staying in.
The Apex Human Rights Panel of India had passed a series of directions recently while adjudicating the case filed by Supreme Court Lawyer and Rights Activist Tripathy in 2015. After getting the investigation report from the SDM, Saket and rejoinder from Tripathy the NHRC found latches in the health care system in Delhi.
The NHRC also sought report from the Delhi Chief Secretary, about the details regarding the preventive and curative action as per the recommendation made in the fact finding report submitted by the SDM, Saket over the tragic incident.
In its order, May 3 last, it has asked the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to take appropriate legal action against the guilty persons which led to the death of Avinash and harassment meted to the parents who were compelled to commit suicide.
The human rights body also asked the District Magistrate, Kendrapara to provide legitimate relief and assistance to the family of the deceased Laxman of Gopinathpur village in coastal Odisha and to submit a report within eight weeks.
Copies of the court proceedings have been sent to the Secretary of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare department to take necessary steps to prevent such fatal incidents.
It has further suggested the Government of India to consider providing first hand medical advice/counseling and ensure availability of medical care facilities in different nearby hospitals over telephone through a 24×7 working toll free number to the citizens.
The NHRC sought response from the five different authorities over this case latest by July 14 next.
UNI