The petition claims that the child is now in a permanent vegetative state and suffers from West Syndrome, epilepsy and cerebral palsy.
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
The Delhi High Court has given the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the Delhi government’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) two weeks to submit a joint inquiry report on the medical qualifications of two doctors accused of mishandling a child during treatment.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna passed the order on October 30 while hearing a contempt petition filed by the child’s mother, Sapna Jain, on behalf of her minor son.
According to the petition, the child suffered severe brain damage “after being mishandled by two unqualified doctors (misrepresenting as super-specialists) in the Neonatal ICU of Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh”.
The petition claims that the child is now in a permanent vegetative state and suffers from West Syndrome, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. It also states that he continues to experience severe pain and suffering.
In March 2025, the High Court had called for affidavits clarifying whether the qualifications claimed by the two doctors “are qualifications entitling these Respondents (doctors) to undertake specialisation practice in this country.”
In May 2026, the court further directed the NMC Secretary and the DGHS to conduct a joint inquiry into the doctors’ qualifications and submit a report within eight weeks.
However, the fresh contempt petition alleged that the deadline of July 24, 2026, passed without the authorities submitting the report or seeking an extension from the court.
“The matter concerns the qualifications of doctors treating critically ill newborns. The NMC, being the statutory regulator, is duty-bound to ensure transparency and accountability, and its continued failure to place a clear and conclusive report before this Court raises serious questions regarding its fairness and credibility and that of its officers. The DGHS has likewise failed to discharge the joint duty cast upon it by this Court,” the plea said.
The court has posted the case for hearing on December 16.
Published – November 02, 2026 04:48 am IST
