The Orissa High Court has upheld the recommendation of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to pay a Rs 3-lakh compensation to the family of an ASHA Worker and her newborn baby, who died due to the unavailability of ambulance service.
The deceased identified as Mini Pradhan died on the way to a hospital in Daringabadi of Kandhamal district. While dismissing a writ petition filed by the Odisha Government, HC Justice Arindam Sinha in his order stated, “It is expected the payment will be made within four weeks to the kin of the deceased. Within that time there must be communication of this order with acknowledgement of receipt to opposite party No 1.”
Notably, the Odisha Government filed the writ petition against the decision of the NHRC in a case filed by Supreme Court lawyer and human rights activist RadhakantaTripathy.
In his petition to the commission, Tripathy alleged that the ASHA Worker, died on September 20, 2021 on the way to the health centre due to no availability of ambulance, road and mobile connectivity.
Alleging failure of the State Government in saving the life of Pradhan and her newborn baby, Tripathy sought fair probe of the incident and compensation to the family of the deceased. The NHRC directed the Odisha Government to pay compensation to the family of the deceased within four weeks. But the State Government moved the High Court seeking quashing of the NHRC order.