Supreme Court pulls up Ayurvedic doctor for failure to provide medical care to child rape victim

The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up an Ayurvedic doctor for failing to provide medical care to a child rape victim in Ghaziabad in March.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was hearing a plea by the child's father raising serious lapses in investigation and the medical response in the case.

"A child is brought before you, and you are so merciless, you did not provide medical care. If you had any empathy, you would have taken her to the hospital yourself," the Court told the doctor.

The Court also said a hospital where the victim was taken had acted in the most ruthless manner and asked it to provide reasonable compensation to the victim's family.

"When we impose penalty, it will have a chilling effect. Think of victim compensation and grant a reasonable compensation to the family. You have acted in the most ruthless manner," the Bench said.

In April, the Court had said there was “complete indifference and insensitive approach" by two private hospitals in the case as well as the local police.

Hence it had ordered a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) into the case.

“The most shocking part of the alleged offence is that it exhibits complete indifference and insensitive approach of two private hospitals as well as the local police,” the CJI had observed.

The incident allegedly transpired on March 16, when the child’s father returned home, and a neighbour took her with him on the pretext of buying chocolate.

When they did not return, a search was initiated. The child was later found unconscious and covered in blood. Two private hospitals had denied had admission. She was finally taken to the Ghaziabad district hospital where she was declared dead.

The case will be heard next week. Senior Advocate N Hariharan represented the family. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati appeared for the State.

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