Supreme Court probes Ghaziabad hospitals after they refused care to assaulted child
Two Ghaziabad hospitals that denied treatment to a severely injured minor rape victim offered a Rs 12 lakh donation to her parents, prompting the Supreme Court to consider new mandatory treatment guidelines.
In New Delhi, two hospitals in Ghaziabad faced scrutiny after turning away a minor who had suffered a brutal sexual assault and subsequently died; the facilities later pledged Rs 12 lakh to the victim's parents. A Supreme Court panel comprising CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana expressed concern over the insensitivity of both medical staff and police. Senior advocate N Hariharan argued that the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita contains clear duties that remain unimplemented.
The justices warned that existing Supreme Court rulings mandating treatment are ineffective on the ground and signaled plans to draft "must-treat" guidelines and require police to video-record complainants' statements. They invited input from Hariharan and Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to shape the forthcoming directives.
Why it matters
The case exposes gaps in India's legal and health systems that leave sexual assault victims without urgent care.
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