Circumcision of tribal boys illegal, says Magisterial inquiry

Shillong: A magisterial inquiry into the `ritual circumcision` of 11 tribal boys at a state-run super specialty hospital near here, has declared it illegal. The report said that the 11 boys from Ri-Bhoi and East Jaintia Hills districts who were in an orphanage were circumcised at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Science (NEIGRIHMS) on October 4, 5 and 6 without obtaining prior consent from their parents.

The matter became known after a youth organisation, Seng Samla Shnong Shilliang Umkhen, raised a hue and cry over it alleging misuse of power by a senior doctor for conducting `religious rituals` at the institute. This led the state government to order a magisterial inquiry. The report by the East Khasi district magistrate was submitted to the state government last Saturday. The report recommended that NEIGRIHMS chief A G Ahanger constitute further inquiry against the circumcision to ascertain if it was done by medical officers at the institute at the personal request of doctors and colleagues. "The Director of NEIGRIHMS should ascertain whether the operations were as per procedure laid down by the hospital administration, rules and procedures," the report said. It sought punitive action against the secretary of the orphanage, Kursheed Thabah, for failing to consult the parents of the boys before the `ritual circumcision`. Thabah had signed the consent forms for the 11 boys and informed the parents only after the operations were performed, it said. The orphanage also was yet to register itself and attracted legal provisions for not adhering to the rule of law, the report added.