Agra hospital which forced Dalit parents to ‘sell’ newborn over unpaid medical bills sealed, probe on
Sep 2, 2020
Shiv Charan and babita, parents of the child at their rented home
AGRA: A day after TOI report, the Agra district health department conducted a raid and sealed the hospital where a Dalit couple was forced to sell their newborn boy for Rs 1 lakh as they were not able to pay the medical bills. During the raid, the health department team found that there was no doctor or paramedical staff on duty, no patient was under treatment and the hospital staff were not able to produce documents related to registration.
After sealing the premises, the health department team placed a notice directing the management to record their statement at the CMO’s office within two days.
After sealing the premises, the health department team placed a notice directing the management to record their statement at the CMO’s office within two days.
Meanwhile, on the orders of district magistrate Prabhu N Singh, a probe was also launched into the case.
Chief medical officer Dr RC Pandey said, “Following the orders of the district administration, a raid was conducted at JP Hospital located in Trans-Yamuna locality. The hospital was found to be operating in violation of the norms. The staff at the hospital was not able to showcase the registration records. No doctor or paramedical staff was found on duty. We have sealed the hospital. Its management has been asked to report in person within two days. We will be looking into their registration records. They will also be questioned on the allegations of the exchange of the baby over unpaid medical bills.”
Following the DM’s orders, additional city magistrate Vimal Kishor Gupta and deputy superintendent of police Vikas Kumar Jaiswal went to meet the Dalit family living in Shambhu Nagar near Mehtab Bagh. The newborn’s mother, 36-year-old Babita, urged the officials to help them get her child back.
District magistrate Prabhu N Singh said, “The incident is being investigated in detail. An FIR will be registered against those found guilty.”
Meanwhile, child rights activist Naresh Paras has sent a complaint to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) seeking action against the hospital under IPC’s section 370 (buying or disposing of any person as a slave).
Chief medical officer Dr RC Pandey said, “Following the orders of the district administration, a raid was conducted at JP Hospital located in Trans-Yamuna locality. The hospital was found to be operating in violation of the norms. The staff at the hospital was not able to showcase the registration records. No doctor or paramedical staff was found on duty. We have sealed the hospital. Its management has been asked to report in person within two days. We will be looking into their registration records. They will also be questioned on the allegations of the exchange of the baby over unpaid medical bills.”
Following the DM’s orders, additional city magistrate Vimal Kishor Gupta and deputy superintendent of police Vikas Kumar Jaiswal went to meet the Dalit family living in Shambhu Nagar near Mehtab Bagh. The newborn’s mother, 36-year-old Babita, urged the officials to help them get her child back.
District magistrate Prabhu N Singh said, “The incident is being investigated in detail. An FIR will be registered against those found guilty.”
Meanwhile, child rights activist Naresh Paras has sent a complaint to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) seeking action against the hospital under IPC’s section 370 (buying or disposing of any person as a slave).
