NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of a newborn due to lack of facilities at IHBAS, Delhi

Press Release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 23rd September, 2025

NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of a newborn due to lack of facilities at IHBAS, Delhi

The baby was born in the washroom of the Institute where the mother was admitted under a court order

Issues notices to the Chief Secretary Government of NCT of Delhi, 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 that a destitute patient’s baby died due to lack of facilities after delivery in the washroom of the government-run Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) where she was admitted on 7th September, 2025 under a court order. Reportedly, the hospital staff took a lot of time to even manage a clamp to cut the umbilical cord before taking them to the nearby Swami Dayanand Hospital by an ambulance, but the infant’s life could not be saved.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of human rights violation. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.

According to the media report, carried on 10th September, 2025, the staff confirmed that the expecting mother was admitted there despite the IHBAS lacking the necessary facilities for childbirth. She is now, reportedly, continuing treatment at another government hospital.

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