Calcutta High Court Orders: The Calcutta High Court has intervened in the ongoing controversy surrounding multiple deaths in Khejuri, East Midnapore, by directing the formation of a new medical board at SSKM Hospital, Kolkata. The court has tasked the board with conducting an independent review and preparing a detailed report on the cause of deaths that occurred under suspicious circumstances.
This directive comes after widespread allegations of medical negligence, lapses in reporting, and administrative failure. Families of the deceased, local communities, and civil society groups have been demanding a transparent inquiry to restore public trust.
Background of the Khejuri Deaths
The Khejuri deaths drew national and state-level attention after several villagers lost their lives within a short span. The nature of the deaths raised alarm, with reports pointing to possible consumption of spurious liquor, food poisoning, or lapses in medical care at the local level.
Initially, district-level medical authorities conducted examinations and filed their reports. However, these findings were criticized as inconclusive and allegedly lacking transparency. Growing dissatisfaction prompted the matter to be escalated to the Calcutta High Court, which has now sought an independent medical review.
The High Court’s Directives
Formation of a New Medical Board
- The High Court instructed that the SSKM Hospital, one of West Bengal’s premier state-run medical institutions, form a new expert team.
- The team will consist of senior forensic specialists, pathologists, and clinical experts, independent of those involved in earlier investigations.
Mandate of the Team
- The board is required to re-examine medical evidence, autopsy findings, and toxicology reports.
- It will also review whether local hospitals followed proper medical protocols while treating the victims.
- The team must submit its findings directly to the High Court, bypassing any political or administrative influence.
Monitoring by the Court
- The bench made it clear that it expects a scientific, unbiased, and conclusive report.
- Any attempt to withhold evidence or interfere with the process will be treated as contempt of court.
Calcutta High Court Orders: Why SSKM Hospital?
SSKM Hospital (officially IPGMER and SSKM Hospital) is among the oldest and most reputed government medical institutions in Kolkata. Its forensic medicine and pathology departments are widely trusted for their expertise in complex investigations.
By entrusting the case to SSKM, the High Court has signaled its intent to ensure that the inquiry is led by experts with credibility, infrastructure, and independence.
🔗 SSKM Hospital – IPGMER Official Website
Families Demand Justice
Relatives of the deceased have welcomed the High Court’s decision. Many had earlier alleged that the initial medical reports downplayed negligence and failed to identify the true cause of death.
One family member was quoted as saying, “We have lost our loved ones, but the truth was being buried. The court’s order gives us hope that we will finally know what happened.”
Local rights organizations have also expressed relief, stating that this decision may set a precedent for accountability in cases where official reports are disputed.
Broader Concerns: Negligence & Governance
The Khejuri deaths are not just a medical issue but also highlight broader concerns of governance, public health management, and accountability.
- Healthcare Infrastructure Gaps
- Villagers alleged that local hospitals were ill-equipped to handle emergencies.
- Shortage of doctors, delayed ambulances, and lack of proper medicines worsened the crisis.
- Forensic Transparency
- Autopsy reports in rural districts are often conducted with limited expertise.
- This can lead to contradictory findings, eroding public confidence.
- Political Sensitivity
- Allegations emerged that local authorities tried to suppress details to avoid unrest during a politically sensitive period.
- This has fueled distrust between citizens and the administration.
Legal and Policy Context
The High Court’s action is rooted in several legal provisions ensuring accountability in cases of unnatural deaths:
- Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 174–176: Mandates inquests and inquiries in suspicious deaths.
- Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), Section 176: Requires magistrates to conduct inquiries into custodial and suspicious deaths.
- Medical Council Regulations: Doctors are legally bound to report and record medical causes accurately.
The court’s emphasis on forming a new board underscores the need for independent medical expertise in cases where local findings are contested.
Public Health & Safety Lessons
The Khejuri tragedy also underscores several lessons for public health administration:
- Need for Stronger District Hospitals
- Rural healthcare systems need better infrastructure and emergency facilities.
- Accountability Mechanisms
- Medical boards must maintain transparency in autopsy and forensic reports.
- Community Awareness
- Locals should be educated about risks of illicit liquor consumption or contaminated food.
- Government Oversight
- The West Bengal Health Department must ensure monitoring systems to prevent recurrence.
🔗 West Bengal Health & Family Welfare Department
Role of the Judiciary
The Calcutta High Court has, in this case, played a vital role in restoring public faith. By ordering a fresh investigation, the judiciary has:
- Reinforced the principle of independent oversight.
- Prevented possible suppression of evidence.
- Sent a message that citizens’ right to truth and justice cannot be compromised.
Comparison with Similar Cases
India has witnessed several instances where High Courts and the Supreme Court have stepped in when official inquiries were questioned:
- Unnao Deaths (Uttar Pradesh): Courts ordered re-investigation when initial police reports were disputed.
- Hooghly Liquor Tragedy (West Bengal, 2011): A state-level inquiry was ordered after dozens died from spurious liquor.
- Kerala Medical Negligence Cases: Courts have frequently directed independent medical boards in disputes over hospital reports.
The Khejuri order thus fits into a larger pattern where judicial activism ensures accountability.
Next Steps
- The SSKM medical board is expected to submit its findings within a stipulated time frame.
- The High Court will review the report and may order further action, including criminal proceedings if negligence is confirmed.
- The state government may also face pressure to upgrade rural medical infrastructure and enforce stricter oversight on illicit liquor networks, if that emerges as a cause.
Conclusion
The Calcutta High Court’s decision to involve SSKM Hospital represents a strong step toward truth and justice in the Khejuri deaths case. For the bereaved families, this is a long-awaited opportunity to secure clarity. For the state, it is a reminder of the urgent need to strengthen both healthcare delivery and administrative transparency.
Ultimately, the case reflects a broader truth: in a democracy, the right to life must be matched by the right to accountability. As the new medical board begins its work, all eyes will be on whether it can deliver answers that the people of Khejuri—and the wider state—deserve.
🔗 Useful Government & Institutional Links:
- Calcutta High Court Official Website
- West Bengal Health & Family Welfare Department
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
- [Street Vendors Act Reference Removed from Earlier Article; Here Healthcare Law Focused Instead]
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