The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday directed the Director-General of Police to constitute within 48 hours a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by an officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police from the CB-CID or another specialised unit unconnected with Sivaganga district, to probe the death of a pregnant woman reported in the district. The woman’s family has alleged dowry-related cruelty.

Justice L. Victoria Gowri directed the Director of Medical Education and Research to constitute the neutral multidisciplinary medical board within 24 hours. The neutral board should take custody of the body and commence the re-post-mortem examination within 48 hours of its constitution. The Collector and Superintendent of Police should provide all assistance for the dignified transportation and burial of the body in accordance with the religious customs of the family, the court directed.

The court was hearing the petition filed by S. Fathima Beevi, mother of the deceased Afrin, of Tirupattur in Sivaganga district. Afrin was married to Mohammed Ashraf in 2026. According to the petitioner, gold jewellery of 19.5 sovereigns, household articles, and customary seer (dowry) articles were given to Afrin and her matrimonial family.

It is alleged that shortly after marriage, Afrin complained that her husband and his relatives demanded an additional 5.5 sovereigns of gold jewellery. The petitioner alleged that Afrin was subjected to physical assault, mental cruelty, humiliation, intimidation, and continuous harassment.

It is stated that Afrin informed her parental family that she was unable to tolerate the cruelty inflicted upon her. Though the petitioner and her family attempted to pacify the dispute and preserve the marriage, the alleged harassment continued.

According to the petitioner, Afrin was approximately four months pregnant at the time. On the night of June 16, Afrin allegedly contacted the petitioner over the telephone and cried uncontrollably. She is said to have stated that she could no longer tolerate the cruelty and requested that she be taken back to her parental home.

On June 17, around 8.40 a.m., Afrin again spoke to the petitioner. This is stated to have been the last meaningful communication between them. Around 9.50 a.m., Afrin’s husband allegedly informed the petitioner that Afrin had locked herself inside a room in the house.

The petitioner and her relatives reached the place at around 10.10 a.m. The petitioner raised doubts about the claim that the victim had died by suicide and said the room appeared to have been secured from outside. She claimed to have noticed visible injuries, including a prominent reddish mark over the posterior aspect of the left shoulder, and other suspicious marks on the body. The petitioner sought the transfer of the investigation to an independent SIT, preservation of all material and electronic evidence, constitution of a neutral medical board, and a re-post-mortem examination of the body.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050 and Speak2Us mental health helpline 9375493754.)

Cracking the whip on his first day in office, Karnataka’s new Health Minister U.T. Khader conducted a surprise inspection of a government hospital in the early hours of Friday (June 5), and later announced an urgent recruitment drive for doctors and a review of complaints relating to private hospitals and ambulance services.

Soon after portfolios were announced on Thursday (June 4) night, Mr. Khader paid an unannounced visit to Jayanagar General Hospital in Bengaluru on Friday around 1 a.m. to assess healthcare delivery at the ground level.

The Minister expressed concern after noticing a pregnant woman seated on the floor and took note of the absence of some doctors assigned night duty.

Action against absenteeism

The doctors found absent would be asked to explain their absence and warned against future negligence, he said, pointing out that disciplinary action would follow repeated violations. “Our objective is to ensure healthcare services reach more people. We want to understand the difficulties faced by doctors, staff and patients, and work towards practical solutions,” Mr. Khader told The Hindu.

Recruitment drive

The Minister chaired a meeting of senior health officials on Friday (June 5) and directed them to initiate immediate measures to fill up vacancies in Health Department-run hospitals across Karnataka. MBBS graduates willing to work in government hospitals will be allowed to apply directly through District Health Officers and attend the interview. Eligible candidates will be appointed within a week, with a monthly remuneration of ₹60,000, he said.

Mr. Khader said addressing the shortage of doctors remained a priority and invited suggestions from healthcare professionals and the public to make the department more responsive and effective. He also said that several initiatives introduced by his predecessor, Dinesh Gundu Rao, would be continued and strengthened.

Empanelled hospitals

The Minister reviewed the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka health insurance scheme and directed officials to ensure strict monitoring of empanelled private hospitals. He warned that hospitals charging beneficiaries beyond prescribed rates would face action.

Appealing to the public to report instances of overcharging through district-level health facilitators or District Health Officers, he said healthcare schemes intended for vulnerable sections must be implemented transparently and without exploitation.

The Minister also urged citizens to cooperate with healthcare workers and refrain from damaging hospital property, threatening doctors or intimidating nurses. Creating a safe and secure working environment for medical personnel was essential for improving healthcare delivery, he said.