Bombay High Court Takes Suo Moto Cognizance Of Deaths At Govt Hospitals In Nanded, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Districts

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of deaths in government hospitals in Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar districts of Maharashtra.

The division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Arif Doctor said that deaths due to shortage of staff, medicines cannot go on.

The court took cognisance of a letter written by Advocate Mohit Khanna.

"Extra-ordinary events have taken place between 30 September 2023 and 3 October 2023 concerning the health of citizens of the State of Maharashtra...31 deaths of patients, including 16 infants at the Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College in Nanded and 18 deaths of patients at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar between 2nd and 3rd October," the letter citing various new reports states.

Advocate General Birendra Saraf appeared in court and volunteered to give information. The court then asked to know the budgetary allocation for health as well as inform about the availability and vacancy of specialist doctors and other staff. The court kept the matter on Thursday.

The advocate in his letter has referred to another incident from Thane Municipal Corporation-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial (CSMM) Hospital in Kalwa where 18 patients had died in 24 hours in August this year.

"The media reports, including statements issued by the doctors suggest shortage beds, doctors and essential medicines as being the primary reasons for the deaths of the patients...While the government of Maharashtra appears to have initiated an enquiry regarding the incidents, one can only imagine the plight of the citizens who cannot afford healthcare and are dependent on the government for the same as well the relatives of those beavered," the letter read.

Article 21 of the Constitution as interpreted by the several judgements of the Supreme Court of India and the High Courts, guarantees and includes access to quality healthcare as a fundamental right of each and every citizen. Article 47 of our Constitution also embodies the directive principle of the duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard, the letter adds.

The matter will be heard on Friday.