Now HC to hear Punjabi singer Jawanda’s case

Jawanda, 35, met with an accident on September 27 near Pinjore when his motorcycle collided with stray cattle, resulting in severe head and spinal injuries. According to the petition, he was first taken to JM Shory Multispecialty Hospital in Pinjore, located close to the accident site. However, as per a daily diary report (DDR No. 61 dated September 28) registered at Pinjore police station, the doctor there allegedly refused to provide any preliminary medical care.

He was subsequently shifted to Civil Hospital, Panchkula, for first aid, then to Paras Hospital, Panchkula, and finally to Fortis Hospital, Mohali, where he underwent treatment but died on October 8. Conflicting reports have since emerged over the hospital’s response — some private doctors claimed they were unaware of Jawanda’s identity and denied any refusal, while others have suggested that delay in treatment may have contributed to his death.

The plea notes that Jawanda’s medical records and expert opinions indicate no negligence in terms of standard medical care as laid down in the Supreme Court’s Jacob Mathew judgment. However, it urges an investigation into whether the alleged refusal violated guidelines on emergency care.

Beyond the individual case, the PIL draws attention to systemic failures, stating that many road accident victims in the region die due to lack of timely medical attention. “It is being experienced that a lot of road accidents take place on the roads of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, and many lives are lost because of the non-availability of immediate medical care to the victims,” the petition states.

Citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, it points out that in 2022, Punjab recorded 6,122 road accident deaths and 3,372 injuries, while Haryana saw 4,588 deaths and 4,516 injuries. The figures rose in subsequent years, with Punjab reporting over 7,000 injuries in 2023.

Referring to the Law Commission of India’s 201st Report (August 31, 2006) on Emergency Medical Care to Victims of Accidents and Other Emergencies, the petitioners seek measures to encourage accident reporting without fear of harassment and to ensure that hospitals provide stabilizing care irrespective of jurisdiction.

The PIL seeks setting up of a board of doctors from PGIMER, Chandigarh, to probe Jawanda’s case; directing all hospitals to attend to accident victims with facilities for stabilization; training paramedics in pre-hospital care; and implementing a region-wide trauma care system. It also cites Supreme Court rulings such as Parmanand Katara vs Union of India (1989) and Pt Parmanand Katara vs Ministry of Health (1989), underscoring that denial of emergency medical aid violates the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

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