This is an archive article published on August 22, 2022
Malnutrition & lack of medical facilities: Bombay HC seeks report from Nandurbar collector on deaths of 86 kids
A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M S Karnik was hearing a bunch of pleas, including those filed by activists Rajendra Burma and Bandu Sampatrao Sane.
The residents of the other buildings inside Gitanjali complex were on Tuesday seen demolishing the structures on their own after receiving directives from the Bombay High Court. (File Photo)
THE BOMBAY High Court recently sought a detailed report from the Nandurbar District Collector on the death of 86 children in the tribal belt due to malnutrition and lack of medical facilities since January.
Seeking effective redressal of the concerns of the tribal population, including access to medical facilities, the High Court referred to Dashrath Manjhi, the ‘mountain man’ from Bihar, who carved a path through a hillock using a hammer and chisel to help people from his village get access to roads and hospitals.
A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M S Karnik was hearing a bunch of pleas, including those filed by activists Rajendra Burma and Bandu Sampatrao Sane, on malnutrition among children in Melghat.
On Wednesday, raising concerns over an ‘unfortunate incident’ of a woman in Palghar district recently losing her twins within 24 hours of their birth due to a delay in reaching the medical centre, the bench asked the Maharashtra government to take immediate steps to make health facilities accessible to expectant mothers and infants in tribal areas. The detailed order was made available on Saturday.
While deliberating on this order, the bench referred to the inspirational life story of Shri Dashrath Manjhi, popularly known as ‘Mountain Man’.
“We read that Manjhi, single-handedly, started carving a path in the mountain using only a hammer and a chisel because of an unfortunate incident that had taken place in his life. The government eventually recognised his efforts and then went out of its way to complete the task that Manjhi had single-handedly undertaken for the development of the village for the availability of the hospital and the road,” it said.
Minister holds meet on road condition, health services in Palghar
In the wake of reports about the absence of motorable roads in the remote areas of Palghar district, Tribal Development Minister Dr Vijaykumar Gavit on Sunday said pucca roads will be constructed in these areas. Gavit held a review meeting with senior officials of the district, including collector Govind Bodke. The minister visited the district weeks after reports came about a woman, who lost her babies after she was transported on a makeshift stretcher to a primary healthcare centre for delivery due to lack of proper roads. Speaking to reporters, Gavit said to make health services more effective, vacant posts in the health department will soon be filled. (PTI)
The bench also expressed displeasure that while schemes and measures are in place to deal with concerns in the tribal areas, the effect of the same is not seen at the ground level. The HC said that if there is any lack of coordination between the implementing agencies coming in the way of tribals from availing benefits of the schemes, respective heads of the concerned departments must come together and provide a road map to ensure that the schemes and measures do not remain just on paper.
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The court asked the state government to consider and take suitable steps on the suggestions made by the petitioners about immediate measures taken to address the concerns. The suggestions made by the petitioner, Sane also included increasing the personnel and infrastructure strength of the Public Health Centres (PHCs) to take care of all patients, coordination between implementing agencies and improvement in the quality and quantity of food provided to pregnant women and children between zero to six years.
Asking the state government to take implement the measures immediately, the bench posted further hearing in the matter to September 12.
Omkar Gokhale is a journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates exceptionally strong Expertise and Authority in legal and judicial reporting, making him a highly Trustworthy source for developments concerning the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in relation to Maharashtra and its key institutions.
Expertise & Authority
Affiliation: Reports for The Indian Express, a national newspaper known for its rigorous journalistic standards, lending significant Trustworthiness to his legal coverage.
Core Authority & Specialization: Omkar Gokhale's work is almost exclusively dedicated to the complex field of legal affairs and jurisprudence, specializing in:
Bombay High Court Coverage: He provides detailed, real-time reports on the orders, observations, and decisions of the Bombay High Court's principal and regional benches. Key subjects include:
Fundamental Rights & Environment: Cases on air pollution, the right to life of residents affected by dumping sites, and judicial intervention on critical infrastructure (e.g., Ghodbunder Road potholes).
Civil & Criminal Law: Reporting on significant bail orders (e.g., Elgaar Parishad case), compensation for rail-related deaths, and disputes involving high-profile individuals (e.g., Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty).
Constitutional and Supreme Court Matters: Reports and analysis on key legal principles and Supreme Court warnings concerning Maharashtra, such as those related to local body elections, reservations, and the creamy layer verdict.
Governance and Institution Oversight: Covers court rulings impacting public bodies like the BMC (regularisation of illegal structures) and the State Election Commission (postponement of polls), showcasing a focus on judicial accountability.
Legal Interpretation: Reports on public speeches and observations by prominent judicial figures (e.g., former Chief Justice B. R. Gavai) on topics like free speech, gender equality, and institutional challenges.
Omkar Gokhale's consistent, focused reporting on the judiciary establishes him as a definitive and authoritative voice for legal developments originating from Mumbai and impacting the entire state of Maharashtra. ... Read More
