The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of a complaint alleging that several women died under suspicious circumstances and many others suffered kidney failure after undergoing Caesarean (C-section) deliveries at government hospitals in Rajasthan, with the Prince Bijay Singh Memorial (PBM) Hospital in Bikaner cited as a primary site of concern. The commission has directed multiple senior officials to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks.

Notices Issued to Senior Officials

A Bench presided over by NHRC Member Priyank Kanoongo on Thursday issued formal notices to Bikaner Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Pukhraj Saad, Bikaner District Magistrate Nishant Jain, Rajasthan Medical, Health and Family Welfare Department Principal Secretary Gayatri A. Rathore, Jaipur Directorate of Medical and Health Services (DMHS) Director General Ravi Prakash Sharma, and National Medical Commission (NMC) Chairman Abhijat Chandrakant Sheth.

All five have been directed to inquire into the allegations and furnish a detailed ATR within two weeks. The action has been initiated under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, which empowers the apex human rights body to probe alleged violations of human rights.

What the Complaint Alleges

According to the complaint, several patients who underwent C-section deliveries subsequently developed kidney failure and are reportedly on ventilator support and undergoing daily dialysis. The complainant, citing media reports, alleged that the incidents may have resulted from medical negligence, contaminated medicines, or serious lapses in treatment and hospital administration.

The complainant sought an independent high-level inquiry, stringent action against officials found responsible, compensation for affected families, and directions to prevent recurrence.

NHRC's Prima Facie Finding

After examining the complaint, the NHRC observed that the allegations, prima facie, appear to involve violations of the human rights of the victims. The commission underscored the gravity of the situation by looping in the National Medical Commission — the apex medical regulatory body — alongside state-level health and administrative officials.

This is notably the second time in recent months that the NHRC has taken suo motu or complaint-based cognisance of alleged hospital lapses in Rajasthan's public health system, reflecting a pattern of systemic concern around maternal and patient safety in the state.

Background and Broader Context

PBM Hospital in Bikaner is one of Rajasthan's largest government referral hospitals, serving a vast catchment area across the western districts of the state. Complaints of overcrowding, understaffing, and medicine shortages at such facilities are not new, but allegations of post-surgical deaths and organ failure of this nature are unusually severe.

Critics argue that public health infrastructure in several Indian states remains critically underfunded, making maternal mortality and post-operative complications disproportionately higher in government hospitals compared to private facilities. The NHRC's intervention brings fresh scrutiny to Rajasthan's health administration at a time when the state government is already under pressure over public hospital conditions.

What Happens Next

The concerned authorities, including the National Medical Commission, have two weeks to submit their ATRs to the NHRC. Depending on the findings, the commission may recommend compensation, departmental action, or refer the matter to the appropriate court. The families of the affected women and those currently on dialysis are awaiting both accountability and relief.