The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a Chhattisgarh couple’s plea alleging a clear case of child swapping at a private hospital, seeking investigation and justice for the alleged mix-up.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a petition filed by a couple alleging a case of “child swapping” at a private hospital in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The bench of Justice Manoj Misra and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, on September 1, issued notices to the Chhattisgarh government and the hospital director, emphasizing that the matter “requires consideration.”
Background of the Case
The couple’s petition challenges a January order of the Chhattisgarh High Court, which had refused to direct the filing of an FIR against the doctor and hospital director. It also declined to order an investigation into the complaint.
The couple alleges that the woman gave birth to a girl child and a boy child, but later discovered that both children were girls. A subsequent DNA test confirmed that only one child matched the parents’ DNA, raising suspicions of child swapping.
What Happened at the High Court?
During the proceedings in the High Court, the state’s counsel presented a report from an enquiry committee of six expert doctors, which claimed that all hospital documents were accurate and ruled out any child theft.
The hospital director stated that the hospital had conducted a thorough investigation and handed over the children to the parents at the time of discharge, with no criminal act attributed to the hospital staff.
The High Court, after reviewing the evidence, concluded,
“We do not find any good ground to interfere with the case. Petitioners are at liberty to take recourse to law, if they so advised.”
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Supreme Court Intervention
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case signals the seriousness of the allegations. The bench has issued notices to all concerned parties, and the case is now returnable in four weeks.
The petitioners argue that the High Court did not properly examine whether both a boy and a girl were delivered, and they are seeking a thorough investigation to ascertain the truth.
“Matter requires consideration. Issue notice to the respondents, returnable in four weeks,”
the bench said.
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