NHRC issues notices to Delhi Government, MCD and Max Healthcare Institute Ltd. in a case of a boy's death due to drowning

New Delhi, February 25th, 2011

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report alleging that a 12 year old boy, Abhishek, drowned in an open pit near the construction site of a hospital at Haidarpur village in Delhi.

According to the report carried on the 21st February, 2011, Abhishek, a student of class IV was playing with his friends near the construction site of a hospital in Haidarpur village on the 19th February, 2011. Around 6.00 pm, he slipped and fell into a 12 ft. deep pit which had no boundary wall and no watchman to caution the people.

A group of villagers reached the spot and tried to rescue Abhishek. They took him to the nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead.

It was also reported that a case under Section 304(A) of Indian Penal Code, IPC, has been registered at the Shalimar Bagh Police Station against the hospital authorities, namely, Max Healthcare Institute Ltd. for causing death due to negligence.

The Commission observed on the 24th February, 2011 that the contents of the press report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights of the deceased due to negligence of the hospital authorities, the Government of NCT of Delhi and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for not ensuring safety precautions and construction guidelines.

Accordingly, it issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi, the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Director Max Healthcare Institute Limited calling for their reports in the matter within four weeks.

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