HC awards compensation for missing patient

Express news service Posted: Apr 24, 2008 at 0103 hrs
kolkata, April 23 Delivering an order on a writ petition of habeas corpus, the Calcutta High Court directed the Medical Director of B R Singh Hospital on Wednesday to pay Rs 50,000 compensation to Shankari Sarkar for the failure of the hospital to look after her husband Nanda Sarkar, a retired employee of the Eastern Railway. Nanda was admitted to the Eastern Railway run hospital on September 22, 1999 and had gone missing from the hospital on October 7, 1999.

During the hearing the medical director of the hospital admitted that Nanda was an “ambulatory” patient, who was not in a condition to walk. Expressing displeasure over the role of the hospital, which discharged its responsibility by merely registering a complaint with a police station, a Division Bench directed DC, Detective Department of Kolkata Police and Special IG (missing persons squad) to publish the photograph of Nanda in newspapers and display it on TV channels.

After he went missing, his family members had lodged a complaint with the Kolkata Police. His wife had approached hospital authorities but they could not explain whether he was dead or alive. At last she filed a habeas corpus petition on February 8, 2008 against the Kolkata Police and the hospital authorities complaining that they had not taken proper steps to trace her husband.

Advocate Idris Ali, counsel of Shankari Sarkar, said the High Court has given relief to the family. Shankari lives in Asansol with her only son.