NHRC issues notice to Odisha govt

The National Human Rights Commission on Thursday issued a notice to Odisha chief secretary asking him to submit a report within four weeks on claims that a woman was forced to deliver baby on the road after she was driven away from a hospital.

The Commission also asked the Chief Secretary to get back to it on the health condition of the woman and her new-born child.

The action came after media reports alleged that Rosi Jena was admitted to the Puri District Headquarter Hospital on April 5 and struggled with labour pain in the evening.

As her parents were not able to arrange the money for operation, the hospital authority forcibly discharged Rosi from the maternity ward. Before she could be shifted to another hospital, she delivered a girl child in front of the hospital in an auto rickshaw.

"The Commission while issuing notice has observed that the allegations of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of right to health of the woman," an official statement said.

It also asked the Chief Secretary to submit report in the matter within four weeks and also directed him to inform the Commission about the state of health of Rosi and the child along with the disciplinary action, if any, initiated against the delinquent doctor.