The Gujarat high court directed police on Thursday to register an FIRin thecaseof 23thalassaemic children being given HIV-infected blood during transfusion in Junagadh.
Parents of the infected children had approached the high court demanding directions to the cops to investigate negligence by the Junagadh Civil Hospital authorities.
Advocate Girish Das has filed another PIL demanding investigation and Rs 5 lakh compensation
for the affected children and their families.
The 23 children came to know that they had been infected with HIV about six months backwhen they wentfor routine check-ups. They were part of a group of 100 children from across Junagadh district, who came to the civil hospital for bloodtransfusion regularly.
The state government filed an affidavit before the court on Thursday, stating the children might have contracted the infection at non-licensed laboratories where they may have gonefor bloodtransfusion.
Acting chief justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya disagreed with the government’s contention and asked its lawyers to file another affidavit with the documentstosupporttheclaim. Thekidshavebeen infectedwith a serious disease and the matter needs to be investigated, the courtsaid.
The parents have demanded that the accused be booked for culpable homicide and causing injury by administering stupefying drug or poison with intent tocauseharm.
“We have told the court that the police has not even registered an FIR despite complaints by the parents,” said advocate Rajesh Dewal, representing the parents.
The petitioners also demanded that the state government should cancel the licence of the blood bank from where the infected blood was sourced. The court, however, said it will decideon theissueonly after the governmentfilesitsfinal report.
The angry parentsjoinedthe Congress’ Satkarma fast against chief minister Narendra Modi’s Sadbhavana mission fast atJunagadhon Thursday.
“If the CM really wants to show some sadbhavana, these kids arewaiting for it.They have been demanding compensation from the state government but noonehadthetimefor them.Finally, their parents had to move the high court for justice,’’ said GirishKotecha,Congressleader anddeputy mayor of Junagadh.
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