Thiruvananthapuram: Instead of justice, Rudra's parents receive summons

Thiruvananthapuram: Instead of justice, the parents of Rudra, the baby who allegedly died of medical negligence at SAT Hospital, were handed a court summons, that too, a day before her first death anniversary. Police had filed a case against them under Juvenile Justice Act Section 23, as they had made their three-year-old daughter Durga sit in front of Secretariat with them for an agitation in March. As per Section 23 of the Act, if a person in charge of a minor wilfully neglects a child or exposes them to mental or physical suffering, they will be punishable with six months' imprisonment or fine or both.

Cantonment station officials say the parents were asked to come to the police station, as the summons had gone to the wrong address. The case will be heard on Monday morning. The irony was not lost on the parents, Remya and Suresh. "The investigation on my daughter's death is heading nowhere. Hospital authorities and DMO are yet to submit reports on the medical negligence case. We fear there are attempts to erase the case altogether. We have not received the solatium of Rs 2 lakhs which was granted by the state government. Meanwhile, we are left to deal with this summons," says Remya. The baby was brought to the hospital for what the parents thought to be diaper rash. They allege that an overdose of medicines had cut her life short. Hospital authorities allege that the baby died of malnutrition.