Rights panel asks two govt docs to pay Rs 3 lakh as compensation

Taking a serious view of alleged dishonesty in the working of two doctors of government hospital, Karnal, while handling a medico-legal case pertaining to an assault, the Haryana Human Rights Commission has ordered them to pay `3 lakh as compensation to the complainants and asked for a thorough probe into the role of cops who also allegedly sided with the accused.

The order came on April 1, 2014, on a complaint lodged before the commission about two years ago by a widow, Laxmi Devi, of Kulbehdi village in Karnal district, who held that she and her kin were brutally beaten up by a rival Noratti Lal and his ‘men’ on May 28, 2012, and the police and doctors sided with the accused.

Commission chairperson justice Vijender Jain and member justice HS Bhalla in the order held that it was a crystal clear after the probe by Karnal civil surgeon Dr Vandana Bhatia, that both the doctors, namely Dr Ashish Verma and Dr Pratik Sharma for some extraneous consideration had helped the accused and neglected the complainant and her kin who had suffered serious injuries.

Dr Verma did not mention the fracture of patient Ankit in the medico-legal report on May 28, 2013 and nor admit other patients, the complainant and her kin, the order said and added that while Dr Sharma showed extra interest in admitting the patients of the accused family, while he was not on duty.

“The doctors cannot be spared for these serious lapses…. We are of the opinion that the ends of justice would be met in case suitable amount of compensation is awarded to the injured persons namely Ankit and the complainant Laxmi Devi, the order said and added that therefore, a sum of `3 lakh is awarded to both the injured persons, which shall be payable by Dr Verma and Dr Sharma in equal shares — `1.5 lakh each — from their own pockets within 60 days from the date of the order. In case the said amount is not paid by them, the department is directed to deduct the salary of both the doctors and remit the same to the injured,” the order added.

The commission also directed the chief secretary, Haryana, to prosecute both the doctors under the relevant provisions of IPC so that it set an example fore rest of the fraternity.

The commission has also ordered for a free and impartial inquiry into the role of the accused police personnel and sought report within eight weeks.