The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued conditional summons to the Cuttack district Collector for his negligence in acting over the issue of a mentally-retarded woman and her baby.
The NHRC had on September 6, 2018 issued a reminder to the Cuttack Collector for submission of his report as directed by the commission vide its proceeding on June 27, 2018. No report has been submitted by the concerned authority despite warning of coercive process.
Exercising its power given under Section 13 (a) of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the Commission directed that the Collector be summoned to appear in person on December 6, 2018 to produce the required information and documents.
Should, however, the required information and documents be received on or before October 2, 2018, his personal presence shall be dispensed with.
Petitioner Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy alleged that due to lack of medical care and State apathy a mentally challenged woman was raped and gave birth to a child on road at Jagatpur in Cuttack district. The victim has been deprived and denied of basic human rights due to apathy and negligence of State officials.
Bring to the notice of the NHRC that one mentally challenged woman gave birth to a child helplessly on road on July 26, 2016, Tripathy stated that after labour pain the woman was crying for help, none of the officials like ASHA and other health officials took care of her during her pregnancy nor any body came to her rescue during her delivery at IB Road in Jagatpur. Corporator Nirod Chandra Panda called an ambulance after the incident. But that also did not reach. Negligence and failure of the Government authorities in acting over the issue pose a serious question of human rights, Tripathy alleged.
He requested the NHRC to direct the Odisha Chief Secretary, Odisha and the Cuttack administration to act immediately over the issue and to ensure nutrition, health care, rehabilitation of the mother and the child till the child attains eighteen years of age and recommend other steps to be taken in the interest of justice and protection of human rights.