Serious lapse at Delhi hospital in handling abandoned babies

A "serious lapse" at a Delhi hospital, which could have been misused for trafficking in babies has been brought to light with an RTI applicant earning applaud of Central Information Commission for his efforts.

A "serious lapse" at a Delhi hospital, which could have been misused for trafficking in babies has been brought to light with an RTI applicant earning applaud of Central Information Commission for his efforts.

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Social worker Raajmangal Prasad had filed an RTI application before the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital in New Delhi seeking details of newborn abandoned babies brought to the hospital and where they were later sent.

Prasad also asked for documentary evidence of how many of these were handed over to Delhi Council for Child Welfare and police.

"The Appellant (Prasad) had sought details about new-born babies left by parents or guardians and handed over to police or to Delhi Council for Child Welfare. However, the hospital did not have the documents evidencing where the children were sent," Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi observed in his decision.

When Prasad filed first appeal, the hospital authorities managed to trace documents pertaining to three of the five babies, which had been brought to hospital.

"It is apparent that there is no system in place to ensure that proper documentation is available from the place where the babies are received. Because of the persistence of the RTI applicant, the hospital has now obtained these," Gandhi said congratulating Prasad for "bringing to light a serious lapse which could be misused for trafficking in new-born babies."