Srinagar, June 25: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Monday observed that ‘criminal negligence’ and ‘misconduct’ were responsible for infant deaths at GB Pant Hospital and a criminal case must be registered against those responsible.
 However, the Commission said proper recommendations would be made after receiving the rejoinder from the complainant in the case listed for July 30.
 The complaint filed by national president Yuva Lok Janshakti Party, Sanjay Saraf, had urged SHRC to recommend measures in order to avoid future loss of precious lives. “These deaths took an ugly turn from 2009 but government failed to handle the situation and it was taken as a normal process,” it said.
 Sanjay filed the complaint on May 28 along with the official data showing number of deaths occurred from Jan 2009 till May 2012. The case came up for hearing today.
 During proceedings of the case, the state government presented its reply which was prepared by Principal, Government Medical College Srinagar and Commissioner/Secretary Health and Medical Education Department. It was presented in the Commission through a counsel.
 The Medical Superintendent, GB Pant Hospital, Dr Muneer Masoodi also filed his reply by appearing in person before the Commission. The observations were made after hearing all the parties.
 Earlier, SHRC had observed that the matter pertained to the rights of newly born babies. “Both the state government and hospital administration have failed to improve the healthcare scenario at the child specialty institute to save precious lives of babies,” Rafi Fida, member of the SHRC had told Greater Kashmir.
 “It is the fundamental right of an infant to receive good healthcare and government has to provide it at any cost,” he had said.
 As per figures compiled by the Principal GMC Srinagar, year 2010 leads the death toll in the hospital with 1038 neonates and pediatrics dying. In 2009 the figure of deaths is 945 while it is 845 in 2011.
 The petition prayed the government should be directed to constitute a committee involving all political parties which can go through the matter and give its report to the government. “Health sector should be the priority and all the peripheral and district hospitals should be upgraded and provided with specialized care for infants in order to decrease the patient flow in the GB Pant Hospital,” it reads.
 “Till the construction of new pediatric hospital is complete government should take some strong measures and make officials accountable and answerable taking moral responsibility,” the petition said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 25 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST