Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court has directed the principal secretary, health, medical and family welfare, and the TS Authorisation Committee for Organ Transplant to allow city resident Ratnakar Peddada, 47, to accept a kidney from one Raju Kunkunooru, who came forward to donate the organ out of love and affection. Justice A. Rajasheker Reddy was allowing a petition by Mr Ratnakar by setting aside the order passed by the principal secretary, the appellate authority under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994.
Mr Ratnakar suffered from an episode of heavy internal bleeding (peritoneal haemorrhage) in the right kidney in 2007, and underwent surgery to remove it. In November 2016 the functioning of his left kidney got affected and since then he has been undergoing dialysis thrice a week at a private hospital in the city. Mr Raju who has been working as a driver with Mr Ratnakar’s family from 2007 came forward to donate his kidney out of love and affection as he was employed by Mr Ratnakar’s mother.
Mr Ratnakar approached the State Authorisation Committee in December 2017 but his application was rejected stating that “The committee is not convinced regarding the altruistic nature of the donation.” Mr Ratnakar approached the principal secretary, the appellate authority, who also rejected the application by confirming the order of the committee on May 14, 2018. The principal secretary said: “The Donor Raju is found to be your car driver and it is difficult to believe that there is no financial consideration. The prospective donor also could not explain the reasons for his decision. The government after careful examination holds that there are no grounds to interfere with the decision of the Authorisation Committee.”
Mr Ratnakar told the court that Mr Raju and his wife had categorically stated before the authorities that the donation was purely based on love and association without any monetary consideration. The statement was video-recorded before the deputy secretary of medical and health. Mr Ratnakar contended that the application was rejected based on suspicion and for no other just ground.While allowing the petition, the judge directed the authorities to allow Mr Ratnakar transplantation of the kidney in view of his critical condition.
