The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report from the State Health Secretary within six weeks for alleged violation of guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court (SC) while conducting sterilisation (family planning operation) on women in camps organised for such surgeries.
The SC guidelines clearly state that a single surgeon can conduct a maximum of 50 family planning operations on women in a single camp.Human rights activist Akhand through a petition drew the attention of the Commission to an incident on March 23 this year alleging 90 women were operated upon at the Jaleswar Primary Health Centre by a single doctor in a single day in a family planning operation camp.
The petitioner alleged that the surgeon, who arrived at the PHC around noon had kept women waiting for four to five hours, said the rights activist in his petition. He further alleged that in the absence of beds and rooms at the PHC, women on whom operations were conducted were seen lying on the floor of the PHC and the ground adjacent to it in semi-conscious state.
Admitting the petition and citing clear violation of human rights, the Commission has served a notice to the Health Secretary to file a report within six weeks.It may be noted that four such cases filed by Akhand are sub-judice in the Commission.