🏥 When Healthcare Fails: NHRC Orders ₹2 Lakh Compensation for Infant’s Death in Badaun
Posted on: June 19, 2025
Author: PVCHR Editorial Team
Tags: Infant Mortality, Healthcare Negligence, NHRC, Human Rights, Uttar Pradesh, SNCU, Compensation, PVCHR, Lenin Raghuvanshi
⚠️ A Death That Should Never Have Happened
In a deeply disturbing case from Badaun district, Uttar Pradesh, a newborn baby died after being denied access to an incubator in the Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of a government hospital for nearly 12 hours. The reason? Allegedly, the family was asked to pay a ₹5,000 bribe before the baby could be admitted.
By the time the underweight baby was admitted to the ward, it was already too late.
The case came to light through a report published in Amar Ujala, and Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, a noted human rights defender from Varanasi, immediately approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to intervene and hold the authorities accountable.
⚖️ NHRC’s Response: A Rare Glimmer of Accountability
In its order dated 12 June 2025, the NHRC confirmed that the Government of Uttar Pradesh failed to respond to its earlier Show Cause Notice despite the gravity of the incident. The Commission had previously cited:
-
Referral guidelines issued by the UP Health Department
-
Technical specifications for SNCU equipment (2015, Govt. of India)
-
UNICEF toolkit for neonatal care
-
And the broader context of gross negligence and systemic failure
After four months of silence from the health department, the NHRC ruled:
“The Commission confirms its show cause notice and directs the Govt. of Uttar Pradesh through its Chief Secretary to release compensation of ₹2,00,000/- (Two Lakhs Only) to the next of kin (NoK) of the deceased baby, and submit compliance along with proof of payment within six weeks.”
🛑 Why This Matters
This is not just another case of infant mortality — this is about a system that failed a child even before they had a fair chance to live. It’s about:
-
Corruption in public hospitals
-
Negligent neonatal care
-
Denial of essential life-saving equipment
-
And the total breakdown of accountability mechanisms
This case is a mirror held up to our healthcare infrastructure — especially for the poor and voiceless.
📢 PVCHR's Stand
We at People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) reiterate:
-
Justice is non-negotiable when it comes to child deaths caused by negligence.
-
Every newborn has the right to life and medical care, regardless of the family's socio-economic status.
-
Immediate systemic reforms are needed to eliminate bribe culture in public hospitals.
-
All SNCUs must be audited for compliance with Ministry of Health guidelines.
🔍 What’s Next?
The NHRC has issued a final reminder to the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh to submit a compliance report by 20 July 2025. PVCHR will continue to follow up to ensure the compensation is not only paid — but that meaningful changes are implemented.
✊ Take Action
Raise your voice against negligence in public healthcare. Share this story. Speak for those who can’t.
#JusticeForNewborn #HealthcareNegligence #NHRCIndia #RightToHealth #PVCHR #LeninRaghuvanshi #UPHealthCrisis #InfantRights #EndBribeCulture #AccountabilityNow #SNCUReform
| Case No.- 2137/24/7/2024 |
| NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION |
| (LAW DIVISION) |
| * * * |
| MANAV ADHIKAR BHAWAN, BLOCK-C, |
| G.P.O. COMPLEX, INA, NEW DELHI- 110023 |
| Fax No.: 011-24651332 Website: www.nhrc.nic.in |
| Date : 12/06/2025 |
| To, |
| THE CHIEF SECRETARY GOVT. OF UTTAR PRADESH LUCKNOW UTTAR PRADESH Email- cs-uttarpradesh@nic.in,csup@ THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY Department of Medical Health and Family Welfare, Government of Uttar Pradesh, 4th floor, Room No.401, Lal Bahadur Shastri Bhawan, UP Secretariat, LUCKNOW UTTAR PRADESH 226001 Email- psecup.health@gmail.com,psecup |
| Sub : Complaint/Intimation from |
LENIN RAGHUVNASHI |
| Subject: Additional Information Called for(AIC) -2137/24/7/2024. |
| Sir/Madam, |
| I am directed to say that the matter was considered by the Commission on 12/06/2025 and the Commission has directed as follows.: |
| 1. These proceedings shall be read in continuation with earlier proceedings of the Commission. 2. The Commission received a complaint from Shri Lenin Raghuvanshi, a human rights activist from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh referring to a news report published by the "Amar Ujala" revealing that a new born underweight baby died in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh as the doctors did not provide an incubator at the SNCU ward of the government hospital for about 12 hours. The complainant has alleged that the baby was admitted in the SNCU ward only after a bribe of Rs. 5,000/- was paid by the family and the death has occurred due to delay and negligence by the hospital staff. The complainant has requested the Commission to intervene into the matter. 3. Vide proceedings dated 20.11.2024, the Commission observed and directed as under: "In response, the Commission received a copy of communication dated 6/8 July 2024 from the Jt. Secretary, Home (HR) Section-I, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh addressed to the Principal Secretary, Dept. of Medical, Health and Family Welfare, requesting therein to submit response to the Commission’s show cause notice. The Commission has considered the material placed on record. Pertinently, the Commission had issued show cause notice keeping in view of facts and circumstances of the case, prevailing legal principals, referral guidelines for health facilities in Uttar Pradesh issued by Dept. of Medical, Health & Family Welfare, Technical Specifications of Medical Devices for SNCU, 2015 released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, and Tookkit guide for setting up SNCU, of the UNICEF. However, no response to the Commission’s show cause notice has been received from the Dept. of Medical, Health and Family Welfare, despite passage of more than four months. It appears that the Dept. of Medical, Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, has nothing to urge in the matter. Therefore, the Commission confirms its show cause notice and directs the Govt. of Uttar Pradesh through its Chief Secretary, to release compensation of Rs. 2,00,000/- (Rs. Two Lakhs Only) to the NoK of deceased baby, and submit compliance report along with proof of payment within six weeks." 4. No response has been received in the Commission till date. 5. Let a reminder be issued to the Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh to submit the complaince report and proof of payment to the Commission, within four weeks, positively. |
| 2. It is therefore, requested that the additional/complete report as directed by the Commission in the matter be sent latest by 20/07/2025, for futher consideration by the Commission. |
| 3. Any communication by public authorities in this matter may please be sent to the Commission through the HRCNet Portal (https://hrcnet.nic.in) by using id and password already provided to the public authorities (click Authority Login). Any Audio/ Video CDs/ pen drives etc. may be sent through Speed Post/ per bearer. The reports/ responses sent through email may not be entertained |
Your’s faithfully |
| CC to |
Mukesh |
