Supreme Court Expresses Serious Concern About Bihar Acute Encephalitis Syndrome Deaths; Seeks Government Response
[ By Bobby Anthony ]The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Bihar government and the centre seeking an explanation on the deaths of more than 120 children in Muzaffarpur due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).Seven days have been granted to the state of Bihar and the Union of India to inform the court about steps being taken to bring the epidemic like situation under control.The...
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Bihar government and the centre seeking an explanation on the deaths of more than 120 children in Muzaffarpur due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).
Seven days have been granted to the state of Bihar and the Union of India to inform the court about steps being taken to bring the epidemic like situation under control.
The direction came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocates Manohar Pratap and Sanpreet Singh Ajmani, seeking a direction to urgently constitute a team of medical experts, with all necessary medical equipment, to provide treatment to the children suffering from AES.
The PIL contended that the deaths of more than 126 children, in the age group of one year to ten years, in Bihar are the direct result of negligence and inaction of governments of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and the Union of India in handling the epidemic which arises every year.
The petition stated that right to life is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
The petition stated that deaths of hundreds of young innocent lives occurred due to negligence by the state and that this consistently violated the fundamental right to life guaranteed under the Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
The PIL has made a request to set up 500 intensive care units (ICUs) and 100 mobile ICUs immediately.
It asked for an extraordinary government order directing all private medical institutions in the affected area to admit as well as provide treatment free of cost to patients to be issued,
The PIL also asked for a compensatory amount of Rs 10 lakh to be granted to surviving members of the families of the deceased who died due to the negligence of the state.
The Bihar government assured the Supreme Court that all necessary steps are being taken to control the outbreak of AES in Muzaffarpur, claiming that the situation is now absolutely under control.
The matter has been posted for hearing after 10 days.