Telangana: Denial of medical aid to a pregnant woman High Court seeks details on criminal cases filed against doctors

Hyderabad: Expressing anguish over the denial of medical aid by doctors to the pregnant woman in Telangana, Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan said "It's a harsh reality that the pregnant woman was denied admission because of the fear of Covid-19".

The High Court Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy, tagged two PILs filed by advocates Sreenitha Pujitha and K. Kishore Kumar, with a common plea before the Court that the doctors in Jogulamba Gadwal District denied medical aid to a pregnant woman Jenila fearing she is a suspected corona patient.

This negligent attitude and laxity on the part of the doctors and medical staff in Gadwal, forced the young lady Jenila to travel more than 200 kms., all the way to Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad, after she was blatantly denied admission in seven hospitals, only to succumb along with her infant child, the other day. The petitioners sought action against the Doctors for denying medical attention to the pregnant lady Jenelia.

Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan while going through the report submitted by the State Medical and Health Department, expressed shock as the report was silent on the aspect of initiating criminal action against the Doctors who were responsible for the death of the pregnant lady and also action against those seven hospitals, which denied admission to the lady into their hospitals.

Advocate General Banda Shivananda Prasad informed the Court that departmental enquiry has been initiated against the erring doctors and once the enquiry is complete, departmental action will be initiated against them and those seven hospitals, which denied admission to Jenila.

Anguished with the contentions of the Advocate General, Chief Justice Bench pointed out that departmental action is quite distinct from criminal proceedings. We are asking for the department to initiate criminal proceedings against those doctors, who denied medical attention to a pregnant lady. "Nothing stopped someone from registering FIR against these errant doctors for medical negligence", the Bench added. Moreover, the Bench said conspicuously the important aspect of initiating action against those seven hospitals is also missing, apart from the vital aspect that this Court, on the earlier occasion had directed the State government to ensure that sufficient number of ambulances should be stationed at the highways so as to benefit the poor and migrant villagers who can get access to medical aid through this ambulance services.

The Bench further contemplated appointing a retired Superintendent of Gandhi Hospital or Osmania General Hospital / retired Secretary, Medical and Health, who are well acquainted with the issue, to be appointed as Amicus Curiae to assist the Court in adjudicating this case. For further hearing the case has been adjourned to June 10.

HC directs govt to pay full pension to pensioners

The High Court on Wednesday assured the pensioners that if the State Government cuts this month's pension amount then the High Court will issue the orders on the same day.

Moreover, The High Court Division Bench directed the State Government to pay full pension to the pensioners this month.

Hearing on a public interest litigation through video conference filed by Telangana pensioners joint action committee chairman K. Lakshmaiah, Petitioner Counsel Chikkudu Prabhakar informed the Court that the State Government has decided to cut off 25 percent of pension this month.

The pensioners are leading their retired lives with nominal pensions and urged the High Court to direct the State Government to pay full pension without cut. The State Government has decided to cut salaries and pensions of Government Employees and retired persons in view of difficult financial situation due to Covid-19.

Advocate General Banda Shivananda Prasad informed the Bench that the State Government is rethinking the pension cut. For further hearing the matter has been posted to June 1.

Manthani PS custodial death

The High Court Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy directed Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar to probe into the alleged Custodial Death of Sheelam Rangaiah in Manthani PS in the wee hours of May 26 and furnish a report to the DGP.

Moreover, the Bench directed the DGP to go through the report submitted by CP Hyderabad and if the DGP finds any misconduct exhibited by any of the Police Officers in this case, departmental action should be initiated against the erring Police personnel. The High Court Division Bench declined to order for a re-postmortem of the deceased Sheelam Rangaiah as the body has already been cremated.

Hearing on a suo moto taken up public interest litigation addressed by Advocate P.V.Nagamani, the petitioner counsel K.Gopal informed the Bench that Sheelam Rangaiah was arrested by the Police on May 22 and subjected him to physical and mental torture.

On May 25, Sheelam Rangaiah was found dead in his cell at the Manthani Police Station. The petitioner counsel prayed the Bench to initiate action against the CI and SI of Manthani Police Station, responsible for custodial death.

The Court further issued Notices to the Chief Secretary, Prl.

Secretary, Home Department, DGP, SP Peddapalli, CI and SI Manthani police station and directing them to respond by June 5 to the contentions of the petitioner counsel. The matter has been adjourned to June 5.