Expressing anger over a two-day-old baby being stolen from a government-run hospital, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday ordered suspension of the doctor and nurse "in charge of the ward" at Lokmanya Tilak Hospital from where the incident took place on January one.
On a habeas corpus petition filed by the child's father Mohan Nerurkar, a division bench of Justices Bilal Nazki and Anup Mohta also ordered Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai to intitiate inquiry into the case.
"This is a sorry state of affairs," said Justice Nazki, adding that "somebody losing their child is an important matter and we are not going to tolerate it."
"She (mother) had come to the hospital thinking that she could deliver the child in a healthy and secure environment," but the baby could have been safer on the roadside, the judge observed.
The suspension of the hospital staff would be in effect pending the inquiry.
The High Court also directed Mumbai Police Commissioner Hassan Gafoor to remain present in the court on February 4, to explain what action police have taken so far.
In her affidavit, hospital's dean Sandhya Kamath has said, "The child was handed over by the wife herself to the unknown lady -- as she wanted to go to toilet -- and therefore no blame can be placed on the hospital."
{{/usCountry}}In her affidavit, hospital's dean Sandhya Kamath has said, "The child was handed over by the wife herself to the unknown lady -- as she wanted to go to toilet -- and therefore no blame can be placed on the hospital."
{{/usCountry}}Security at the hospital has been tightened in the aftermath, affidavit added.