Press release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 27th August 2026

NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of a woman raped during a diagnostic test at Civil Hospital of Panipat, Haryana

The Commission issues notices to the Haryana Chief Secretary and Panipat Superintendent of Police, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report about the death of a 57-year-old woman, who was subjected to rape during a diagnostic test at Civil Hospital of Panipat in Haryana on 16th August 2026. She died during treatment at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Science in Rohtak on 18th August 2026.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Haryana Chief Secretary and Panipat Superintendent of Police, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.

According to the media report, carried on 19th August 2026, the terminally ill patient was taken to the Civil Hospital for medical treatment, where the doctors had prescribed X-ray and CT scan tests. Reportedly, the machine operator had raped the victim inside the CT scan room and threatened not to disclose the incident to anyone.

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