Angered at the lack of progress almost a month after a newborn was kidnapped from Sion Hospital, the Bombay High Court has directed Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor to remain present in court next week to explain the steps taken by his officers to find the baby.
“We are not going to tolerate this and put up with this nonsense,” said Justice Bilal Nazki on Wednesday.
The court has also asked Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak to initiate an inquiry against the staff concerned.
Until the inquiry was completed, the court has directed that the doctor in-charge and sister in-charge — Shobha Parab — of the ward concerned be suspended.
The baby boy went missing on January 1 from the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion) hospital.
The court was hearing the petition filed by Mohan Nerurkar, father of the baby.
“This is a sorry state of affairs. These are very important matters for us as civil rights of the citizens are involved,” said Justice Nazki adding, “A lady goes to a hospital thinking she will deliver her child in a healthy and secure environment, but instead loses her child.”
Anil Sakhare, counsel for the civic body, argued that they had put up notices in Marathi and Hindi at all maternity wards asking patients to not leave their babies with strangers.
{{/usCountry}}Anil Sakhare, counsel for the civic body, argued that they had put up notices in Marathi and Hindi at all maternity wards asking patients to not leave their babies with strangers.
{{/usCountry}}“So your defence is that it is the responsibility of the patient to take care of the baby. And not yours (responsibility)?” asked Justice Nazki.
Nerurkar’s lawyers Ashish Chavan and Amit Karkhanis said there were several discrepancies in the missing compliant. When the child was not present at the time of discharge, how could they (hospital) give details about his weight and other things, they asked.