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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, January 3: The investigations in the G.B. Pant Hospital case are stalled for want of a medical expert, according to the Crime Branch. Health Secretary Ramesh Chandra, however, claims that it had recommended the name of a medical expert almost six weeks ago. Both DCP Karnal Singh and ACP Jaipal Singh, deny having received any response from the Health Ministry in this regard.
With just two weeks left for the January 18 hearing of the case filed on a complaint by People’s Union for Civil Liberties, the Crime Branch is far from ready with any progress report. Moreover, the Crime Branch has not carried out Chief Metropolitan Magistrate R.K. Gauba’s order to seize outdated equipment bought in 1988-90 which was allegedly responsible for over 26 infection deaths from the hospital.
The hospital had admitted during the hearing in November that it was continuing the use of the equipment after sterilisation. The crux of the petition in the case was non-use of the equipment as even sterilisation was not proof against infection. It had questioned the efficacy of the sterilisation process adopted by the hospital.
The Crime Branch continues to give the same reason for non-seizure as it had given to the court. “We are waiting for a medical expert to advise us on hospital records on outdated drugs and equipment before we take any steps on our own”.
The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate had rebuked the investigating officer of the Crime Branch at the hearing and said that the the equipment was the only remaining evidence in the case and it was being destroyed.
He had asked for a progress report on the investigations from the Crime Branch to be submitted by December 18. The date was later put off to January 18 after the Crime Branch asked for more time.
