NHRC seeks report from govt on burnt woman’s death at MGMMCH

JAMSHEDPUR: After Jharkhand High Court (HC), now National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of the case a 30-year-old burnt woman’s death due to negligence allegedly by hospital authorities at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital (MGMMCH) in Jamshedpur on February 18.

NHRC assistant registrar Shubhra Tyagi has served a notice to Jharkhand health and family welfare secretary on the death of Heeramuni Barla at MGMMCH, seeking a report within four weeks. The NHRC notice came in the wake of a petition filed with it by Koderma-based human rights activist Onkar Viswakarma on February 19.

“I have requested the NHRC for its immediate intervention in the matter and action against erring officials. The NHRC has lodged a case and has now sought action taken report from the state government within four weeks,” said Viswakarma on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand HC on Thursday fixed the date of March 4 for the next hearing in the matter. The HC had taken cognizance of a PIL filed by city-based advocate Amrita Kumari on February 18, the day Heeramuni died at MGMMCH after spending three days allegedly without treatment.

She was shifted to burn ward on February 17 late evening after HC chief justice Dr Ravi Heeramuni ordered MGMMCH authorities to take proper care following a telephonic complaint by Amrita Kumari, also a law officer of Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) in Seraikela-Kharsawan.

HC had also ordered investigation by expert team of JHALSA following which a probe was conducted in MGMMCH on February 21.

Heeramuni was set afire by her Husband Rajan Purty on February 14 after which police had admitted her to MGMMCH late that evening.

“She was lying under a bed in emergency ward till the CJI called MGMMCH authorities. She sustained 91% burn injuries and she was not even shifted to Burn Ward nor was referred to RIMS or TMH,” added Amrita.