BENGALURU: The High Court on Tuesday dismissed a writ petition seeking to quash the chargesheet against two nurses of Kasturba Hospital in Manipal, who are accused of negligence which resulted in the death of a baby. They have been charged with dipping the baby in hot water while giving a bath without checking the temperature.
Dismissing the petition challenging the chargesheet filed by Manipal Police of Udupi district against Sangeetha Shetty (25) and Sumalatha (27), Justice N Ananda said there are no reasons to quash the chargesheet.
On the non-bailable warrant issued against the accused, Justice Ananda said the nurses can take time to appear before the court if they have a valid reason. “Hence this court cannot interfere with the proceedings in the local court in Manipal,” he said.
Therefore, the court in Manipal will continue the trial against the nurses on the death of baby Mohammed Rafi.
According to the petition, Rafi was born in a hospital in Shivamogga to Fathima Bi on September 12, 2010. He was admitted to M S Ramaiah Hospital in Bengaluru for different ailments the very next day. Later, he was shifted to Kasturba Hospital in Manipal following the advice of a doctor in Shivamogga. At 5 am on October 5, 2010, the nurses allegedly dipped the baby in hot water, causing burn injuries below the waist. The baby died on October 9.
While Fathima Bi, a resident of Vidyanagar, Bengaluru, accused hospital authorities of negligence, the hospital contended that the cause of death was renal failure and extreme malnutrition. The district surgeon also gave a report that burn injuries were not the cause of death.
Fathima Bi then approached the Karnataka Medical Council seeking directions to the hospital to pay a compensation of `10 lakh. The council held the nurses negligent and said the compensation should be paid.
But the hospital did not follow the council’s order and claimed that the victim’s parents were blackmailing them. The hospital also obtained a stay on the council’s order on the grounds that it had no power to pass such an order. Meanwhile, Manipal police filed a chargesheet against the nurses.
Notice to KPA Chief, Members
The High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the president and three members of the Kanakapura Planning Authority in connection with a petition seeking a CBI probe into their appointments.
After hearing a petition filed by RTI activist K Ravikumar, Justice B V Nagarathna issued notice to KPA president M D Vijay Dev and members Puttamadegowda, Joseph Gonsalves and A Ramesh. Ravikumar has alleged irregularities in appointments to KPA at the behest of Energy Minister D K Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The petitioner has also sought action against the two leaders under the Prevention of Corruption Act.