SHILLONG:
The Health department has agreed to pay Rs 3 lakh as compensation to a mother, who lost her new born baby after the Ganesh Das hospital refused admission to her.
The decision was taken as per recommendation of the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC), which took suo motu cognisance of the case based on media reports.
A letter issued on February 4 informed that the Health department has agreed to pay the compensation of Rs 3 lakh to the victim.
It may be mentioned that the victim was later called by the hospital authorities after the intervention of an NGO.
The Commission in its order passed on July 30, 2020 had asked the chief secretary for an effective inquiry into the entire matter and to submit the detailed report within 30 days from the date of receipt of the notice.
Based on the enquiry report, the Commission called for evidence from the victim (mother) and her witnesses on March 11, 2021.
The medical superintendent of Ganesh Das hospital along with the witnesses was called for evidence on April 19, 2021 and the medical superintendent (retd) on April 27, 2021.
Considering the matter from all angles, including the trauma and mental agony suffered by and the damage caused to the victim (mother) by losing her child, the full bench of the Commission comprising chairperson Justice T Vaiphei and two members – B Giri and PJP Hanaman — passed an order on November 1, 2021.
The Commission recommended a compensation of Rs 3 lakh. It observed that the state government should give due consideration to the recommendations and should not drive the victim to other for a to ventilate her grievance by engaging a counsel at huge litigation costs and expenses which she could ill afford.
