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The incident came to public attention after a former municipal councillor recorded the act while accompanying his nephew for treatment
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru, underlined the gravity of the matter, describing it as a ‘stark reflection of systemic failure’ in the hospital’s functioning. (Representational image/X)
In a swift judicial intervention, the Chhattisgarh High Court has taken suo moto cognisance of a troubling incident at the District Hospital in Gariyaband, where a female security guard was seen administering an injection to a patient in place of a trained nurse.
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The matter, initially scheduled for hearing on September 17, 2025, has been expedited to August 28, 2025, reflecting the court’s concern over patient safety and institutional accountability.
The incident came to public attention after a former municipal councillor recorded the act while accompanying his nephew for treatment. The video, shared widely on social media, exposed a serious lapse in hospital protocol and prompted immediate administrative action. The Health Department faced intense scrutiny following the viral clip, leading the Collector of Gariyaband to issue show-cause notices to the Chief Medical and Health Officer, Dr VS Navratna, and Civil Surgeon, Dr Yashwant Dhruv. The notices warned of potential disciplinary proceedings, though the High Court indicated that such steps alone would not suffice.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru, underlined the gravity of the matter, describing it as a “stark reflection of systemic failure” in the hospital’s functioning. The court noted that allowing unqualified personnel to administer injections is a serious breach of medical ethics and professional standards, directly jeopardising patient safety and public trust in government healthcare institutions.
In its order dated August 22, 2025, the High Court emphasised the need for concrete remedial measures. Mere issuance of show-cause notices, the court stated, cannot ensure accountability or prevent recurrence. Officials must take tangible steps to strengthen institutional monitoring, assign responsibility to those at fault, and implement mechanisms to prevent such violations in the future.
To this end, the court has directed the District Magistrate of Gariyaband to submit a personal affidavit by the next hearing date, detailing the actions taken in response to the show-cause notices. The affidavit must also outline preventive strategies adopted to safeguard against similar lapses at the hospital. The State Counsel has been directed to immediately communicate the court’s directions to the District Magistrate to guarantee timely compliance.
About the Author
Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr…Read More
Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr… Read More
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