Savita death: National Human Rights Commission registers case

The National Human Rights Commission today registered a case on the death of dentist Savita Halappanavar, who died last month in Ireland after doctors refused to terminate her miscarriage pregnancy on the ground that Ireland was a Catholic country.

The National Human Rights Commission on Friday registered a case on the death of dentist Savita Halappanavar, who died last month in Ireland after doctors refused to terminate her miscarriage pregnancy on the ground that Ireland was a Catholic country.

HT Image

"Acting on a complaint filed by Odisha based organisation India Media Centre, the NHRC has a registered a case on the matter," a statement from the Commission said.

The right's body said that Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) in Dublin also took up the issue for its attention on a complaint of IMC.

The petition in IHRC was filed by Akhand, the managing trustee of IMC.

In his petition he had alleged that abortion in Ireland was available only when the life of the mother was at risk.

"In this case Savita's life was in risk, but doctors refused abortion. It is a case of medical negligence by the medical staff," the petition said.

The petitioner prayed the NHRC to issue notice to the Indian Ambassador in Dublin, Irish Ambassador in India and Ministry of External Affairs to submit a factual report on this matter.