Too little being done, zero tolerance needed to stop malnutrition deaths in Melghat: HC
The court raised serious concerns over 115 deaths between January and December last year, and said that the "state will have to make special efforts for improvement of living conditions, medical assistance, laying good roads in the concerned area.”
Pulling up the Maharashtra government for doing “too little” over the issue of deaths of infants, pregnant and lactating women due to malnutrition at Melghat area in Amravati district of Vidarbha region, the Bombay High Court on Monday said a ‘zero tolerance’ approach should be taken to ensure that no deaths take place.
The court raised serious concerns over 115 deaths between January and December last year, and said that the “state will have to make special efforts for improvement of living conditions, medical assistance, laying good roads in the concerned area.”
It noted that even though the villages in Melghat and Public Health Centres (PHCs) fall under the Wildlife Sanctuary, there are reservations from villages for improvement of roads as the same would increase the visits of tourists in the area.
“We do not find this to be a valid reason for the state not taking an initiative for laying of proper roads. The focal point for the state should be the health of the pregnant women, newly born babies and lactating mothers,” a division bench of Justices Ravindra V Ghuge and Abhay J Mantri said. It said the state should not “surrender to the crisis” and can take measures to regulate tourism if that was the problem.
The HC was hearing a bunch of PILs on malnutrition deaths. Last month, it had directed state to appoint specialist doctors including gynaecologists and paediatricians in the area on priority basis.
On Monday, Additional Government Pleader (AGP) Bhupesh Samant for the state submitted that specialist doctors are being deployed. However, the court said the daily roster of the doctors which stipulated different doctors to travel to the PHCs was “disappointing and ineffective.”
The court said the fresher doctors are “bound to feel helpless if critical case reaches the PHC” and also emphasised on “serious challenges” for doctors to travel from Amravati or Chandrapur to Melghat region.
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The government said other reasons for deaths include early marriages and pregnancies, undernourishment, sickle cell anaemia. The court said, “earnest need is to go to the root cause of deaths” and “basic medical amenities and facilities be provided to those needing them the most”.
Senior advocate Jugal Kishore Gilda for petitioners said approach roads to PHCs are in bad shape and there was lack of electricity and seasoned doctors were not willing to be posted. As a result, health department was constrained to deploy freshers.
Gilda also highlighted deaths of four children in a single day in November 2025 along with a death of two infants and their mother last year.
“Too little is being done. The deaths of newly born babies and pregnant women are still taking place, though have dwindled. The state government needs to take a zero-tolerance approach for ensuring that such deaths do not occur on account of the common reasons. Such deaths as are being seen in the last two-three decades,” the HC order says.
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The court asked government to spread awareness on sickle cell anaemia in local language. It asked government to give a report on compliances of earlier directives and roadmap for future and posted further hearing to February 27.
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
