A month to lodge complaint!

The brawl in which Rakesh Dalpat Gohil 26 allegedly broke his legs took place exactly a month ago, on April 11. Gohil and Kishoresinh Prabhatsinh Solanki, neighbours in Aasarma village, entered into an argument over the parking of Solanki8217;s tractor, which prevented Gohil from riding his scooter out. The argument took an ugly turn, with groups clashing with hockey sticks and other weapons. While Gohil fractured both legs, Solanki was injured on the head and the body.

Both Solanki and Gohil were admitted to the New Civil Hospital on April 12, where Gohil was operated upon for two hours while Solanki was administered stitches. Both were discharged within 24 hours. But while Solanki was given a medical certificate, Gohil was not provided one as Dr Manchandani, who operated upon him, proceeded on leave the very next day.

Thus, when both parties lodged cross-complaints in the Mangrol police station, Solanki8217;s complaint was recorded, Gohil8217;s was not. The police registered a non-cognisable offence instead.

Gohil was brought by relatives to the DSP8217;s office today, to complain that the Mangrol police were not registering a case for a month now. DSP V M Pargi instructed Mangrol PSI R H Jhala to register a case, as it was obvious that Gohil had been assaulted.

Pratap Patel, who accompanied Gohil to the DSP office, told Express Newsline, 8220;The problem is with the New Civil Hospital8217;s refusal to give us a certificate because the doctor is on leave. Is this the way a hospital functions?8221;

Natwarsinh Atodaria, Gohil8217;s uncle, added, 8220;No one at the hospital seems to be bothered, and the police, despite seeing both legs fractured, have been demanding the certificate for a month now.8221;

Both Patel and Atodaria, who were present when the brawl occurred, were named as accused by Solanki and have since been interrogated by the police. Gohil handed over the case papers of his admission in the New Civil Hospital to the DSP, a copy of which is available with Express Newsline.

New Civil Hospital superintendent Dr Khatija Saifee confirmed that Dr Manchandani had conducted the operation and was since on leave. She added, however, that one Dr Desai had been issuing certificates for the past four days. 8220;The person should have approached me if the certificate was not being issued,8221; she told Express Newsline. 8220;Send him to me and I will ensure he is provided one8221;.

On the procedure being followed while issuing medical certificates, Saifee stated that ideally the same doctor who attended to the patient issued the certificate, but, in his absence, others from the department could provide one.