In a concerning development, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has initiated suo motu cognizance following a media report detailing a grave incident at MGM Hospital in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand . According to the NHRC's release on Tuesday, a pregnant woman in labour was reportedly left unattended for approximately 27 hours after being referred from a Community Health Centre for advanced medical care.

The NHRC’s statement highlights the severity of the situation, noting that "she had to lie on the floor as there was no bed available in the hospital." Tragically, the lack of timely medical intervention led to the death of her child in the womb the following day. The report also revealed that another woman who had recently given birth was being treated on the floor due to the unavailability of beds.

The Commission has observed that "the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights." In response, it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Jharkhand , demanding a detailed report within two weeks. The report is expected to cover several aspects, including the current health status of the affected woman, the availability of beds and other facilities in government hospitals across the state, and any compensation provided to the bereaved family.

The NHRC’s intervention underscores the urgent need for accountability and improvements in healthcare facilities to prevent such distressing incidents in the future.