The Kerala High Court has requested the State government and the Director General of Police to respond to a lawyer's plea, which seeks compensation of ₹1 crore for the family members of Dr. Vandana Das. Dr. Das, a 23-year-old house surgeon, was brutally murdered by a man who was brought to the hospital by the police for a medical examination. The division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice SV Bhatti and Justice Basant Balaji, has ordered that the plea be associated with a related pending matter.
The incident occurred in the early hours of May 10 when Dr. Das was stabbed to death by a school teacher named Sandeep, who was taken to the hospital for a medical examination following an injury sustained in a brawl.
The petition before the High Court was filed by advocate Manoj Rajagopal, a member of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) Legal Cell's State Committee. Rajagopal expressed shock at the incident and argued that it could have been prevented if the hospital had been provided with adequate security.
The plea highlighted the frequent demands made by the medical community for the government to enhance hospital security, as physical attacks on doctors have been increasing. It stated that although police assistance was present at the government hospital, they failed to defend against the accused person's illegal actions.
The petitioner argued that there was a systemic failure in the matter that led to Dr. Das's murder, which violated her fundamental right under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
Rajagopal raised concerns about possible foul play in the investigation, as Sandeep is allegedly affiliated with a service organization associated with the CPI(M) (Communist Party of India (Marxist)). He also pointed out material discrepancies in the police's narration of the incident in the First Information Report (FIR).
Therefore, the petitioner approached the Court seeking a compensation of ₹1 crore for the deceased's parents and requested the Court to monitor the investigation. Additionally, guidelines were sought to ensure security for doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff across the state, along with a directive to the State government to provide armed police officials in all government hospital casualty departments.
TAGS: Kerala High Court State government Director General of Police plea compensation ₹1 crore family members house surgeon Dr. Vandana Das murdered man hospital medical examination lawyer response division bench Acting Chief Justice Justice order tagged pending matter brutal lawyer BJP Legal Cell shocked averted security doctor's community physical attack increasing police aid inactive illegal acts accused person systemic failure fundamental right Article 21 Constitution of India probe foul play CPI(M) discrepancies FIR parents deceased investigation monitored guidelines security doctors nurses staff armed police officials government hospitals State.
