Minor delivers at private hospital; 11 booked, 9 arrested for failing to inform authorities

Nashik: The Malegaon Camp police have registered a case against 11 people, including a senior doctor, after a private hospital allegedly conducted the delivery of a 16-year-old girl without informing the authorities, in violation of legal provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Pocso Act.

Nine accused, including medical staff at the hospital, the man alleged to have impregnated the minor, and her relatives, have been arrested for allegedly concealing the case from the police and relevant govt authorities. Among those held is a former superintendent of Malegaon General Hospital who had started private practice after retirement.

According to the police, the minor delivered a baby girl on June 3 at the private hospital. Despite the case involving a minor, the hospital allegedly failed to report the pregnancy or delivery as mandated.

“A 16-year-old pregnant girl was admitted to a private hospital in Malegaon. It was the duty of the doctors of the hospital to inform the govt authorities about the pregnancy of a minor girl, but they failed to do so. She delivered a baby girl on June 3. The newborn was critical and hence was referred to another private hospital, while the mother was discharged and sent home. Meanwhile, no one went to see the newborn where she was admitted. The information reached officials of the Malegaon Civil Hospital,” said assistant inspector Pankaj Nikam, of the Malegaon Camp police station.

The incident came to light after officials from the Civil Hospital were alerted about the unattended newborn. A senior doctor then traced the case back to the original private hospital where the delivery took place.

Following the complaint by the superintendent of Malegaon General Hospital, an FIR was registered in the early hours of Sunday, after which police launched a crackdown.

The arrested accused were produced before a court, which remanded them in custody till June 12 as further investigation into the case continues.