The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently took suo motu cognizance of the death of two infants at the government-run MY Hospital due to rat bites on the intervening night of August 31 and September 1. .A Bench of Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Binod Kumar Dwivedi also directed the Indore Police Commissioner to explain why no first information report (FIR) has been registered over the deaths."The respondent No. 5 is also directed to file a reply explaining why an FIR has not been registered in the case of the death of two infants in the ICU of the Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Hospital, Indore," the Court said in its order of September 15..When the matter was initially heard on September 10, the Court observed that the incident prima facie pointed to gross negligence on the part of the hospital administration. It had further noted that no action had been taken against any officers, doctors or staff responsible for such lapses.The bench also recorded that one of the infants was from a tribal family in Dhar District. On the same day, it issued show cause notices to the Principal Secretary of the Public Health and Family Welfare Department, the Commissioner of Indore Division, the Collector of Indore, the Police Commissioner of Indore, and the Dean of MY Hospital..Subsequently, the Dean of MGM Medical College filed a detailed reply contending that the two infants did not die due to rat bites but because of multiple congenital malformations. The respondents also highlighted that MGM Medical College is facing issues of staff shortage and poor maintenance of the building, which falls under the responsibility of the Public Works Department (PWD). They further informed that the pest control contract with HLL Infra Tech Services Limited (HITES) has been terminated and disciplinary action has been taken against the nursing staff concerned..When the mater was heard on September 15, the Court directed the Director of Health and Medical Education to submit a reply. Additionally, it also ordered that notice be issued to the Public Works Department and HLL Infra Tech Services Limited, impleading them as respondents..The Court directed the PWD to provide a detailed response on the following issues:(i) The condition of the internal and external structures of the Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Hospital and MGM Medical College buildings.(ii) The expected life span of these buildings.(iii) The state of the drainage system.(iv) The condition of electrification.(v) The budgetary requirements for necessary improvements..Additionally, the PWD was instructed to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR), either through its executive engineer or by engaging a consultant agency, for renovation, repair and maintenance of the MGM Medical College buildings, hostel residential quarters and related infrastructure.The matter will be heard again after two weeks.Senior Advocate Piyush Mathur and advocate Kirti Patwardhan appeared as Amicus Curaie.Additional Advocate General Vishwajeet Joshi and Deputy Advocate General Sudeep Bhargava appeared for the respondents..[Read Order]
