Hyderabad: Expressing serious concern at the infant mortality in Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh, the Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday directed both the governments and the Centre to spell out the steps being taken to prevent infant deaths in both states.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice V. Ramasubramanian while dealing with a taken up PIL with regard to deaths of infants in Kakinada government hospital observed that “it is unfortunate that the infant mortality rate in both states appears to higher than the poor countries in the world.”
“Infant deaths are taking place every week in both states not in remote places like tribal areas but even in hospitals of Hyderabad city. It appears as a calamity,” the court observed.
The bench made it clear that the court will not remain a mute spectator and it would not allow continuation of the infant deaths. The bench told the states to treat it as an emergency issue and take all precautions to prevent infant mortality. The bench said that after calling the report from the district judge they are making these observations and the situation was worrying the court. While directing the respondent governments to submit reports, the bench adjourned the case to next week.
